Released on November 12, 2021, 1:43 PM EST

Homeowners can make their humble residence more environmentally friendly in many ways. Various sustainable investments, such as solar panels, LED lights, Energy Star fans, and window insulation, can not only save excessive energy and transfer greenhouse gas emissions from the atmosphere, but also increase the value of properties by thousands of dollars. Recently, people have started to install something called a cool roof-but what is a cool roof and how does it work?

"The roof of your home is essential for your family to have a shelter. Did you know that it can also keep your home energy-efficient, comfortable, and valuable?" Read an article by Renew Financial, which provides homeowners The rundown of the cool roof. "Installing a cool roof in your home may have a positive impact on your home's energy performance," it continued.

Read on for more information about this energy-saving and money-saving home upgrade, which can revolutionize your home.

A cool roof can easily and effectively reduce your impact as a homeowner. According to CertainTeed, a cool roof is a roof system, usually white or a lighter color (although newer roofs may be darker). It provides high solar reflectance, or reflects ultraviolet rays from the sun, thereby reducing the heat transferred to the building. In turn, you won’t have to use air conditioning too much—especially if you live in a hotter climate, where the air conditioning is running every day.

In addition to reducing energy consumption and energy costs, cool roofs can also reduce the urban heat island effect. Most roofs basically act as asphalt roads, absorbing heat from the sun. But in more crowded areas, cool roofs will lower the surrounding temperature, which is why environmentalists hope they can quickly adapt to the urban climate. The cool roof also enhances the durability of the roof, making it more resistant to extreme weather, which is another side effect of climate change.

When you build a house for the first time, it is easiest to install a cool roof, which you can decide during home planning. However, according to the Department of Energy, if you prefer to convert an existing roof to a cooler roof, you have several different options. You can use a special heat-reflective material on the existing roof, you can restore it with a waterproof tile coating surface, or you can completely replace the roof with new cool roof tiles.

The US Environmental Protection Agency estimates that the price of reflective shingles is roughly the same as the price of high-quality standard shingles, and may be US$0.20 higher than the ordinary mid-range price. The cost of paint coating is as high as US$1.50 per square foot, while the cost of overlay is as high as US$3 per square foot. However, they can save about $0.50 per square foot per year, which means it can really pay for itself in less than 10 years.

However, if your roof is in good condition and does not need to be replaced, installing a cool roof can be expensive and a bit wasteful. Pre-installation requires new materials and labor, and maintenance costs can be very high. However, in the long run, it can save considerable money in terms of energy and environmental incentives, which can be determined by the Cool Roof Calculator.

Before you decide to replace the roof, you need to consider some of the potential disadvantages of cooling the roof. According to Ygrene, if you live in a colder climate, a cool roof won't absorb any sunlight, especially when the daylight is limited and the roof is blocked by snow. Things will definitely get cold. It may increase heating costs in winter-but if you usually need it, you can save on cooling costs in summer.

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