A Basic Guide To Energy Efficient Outdoor Roofing Systems

A Basic Guide To Energy Efficient Outdoor Roofing Systems


These days, the use of energy efficient outdoor roofing systems continues to increase in popularity for a number of reasons. They can dramatically reduce the household’s energy usage, they can decrease the amount of greenhouse gas emissions and they can significantly lower your utility bills. Even though the initial cost of energy efficient roofing for your outdoor entertaining areas might be a little off-putting, the benefits that you will receive over its lifetime will be more then worth it in the end.

  • Cool Roofing
    This is actually an umbrella term that is used to describe several different systems. Basically, it refers to a roof that has been designed to reflect sunlight and heat. Conventional materials only reflect between 5 and 15%, which means that they absorb 85 to 95% of the sun. The coolest materials, however, can reflect more than 65%, meaning that they will only absorb 35% or less.
  • Low Sloped Roofing
    Whilst these systems are usually found on commercial and industrial buildings, they can also be used on multifamily homes. The application of a cool coating or single-ply membrane will help to improve its efficiency – cool coating is the consistency of thick paint and can be applied to existing surfaces, whereas single-ply membranes come in prefabricated sheets and are, generally, glued into place.
  • Steep Sloped Roofing
    These outdoor roofing systems are quite common for residential homes and the most common method of efficiency is through tiles and painted metal. Typical tiles reflect only 10 to 30% of the sun, whereas cool coloured ones will reflect between 25 and 70% of solar energy. The same can be said of cool coloured metal, which is able to reflect between 20 and 90%, as well as being durable.
  • Heat Islands
    This is the name given to urban areas that are hotter then nearby rural areas. A city of 1 million people or more, for example, can be 1.8 to 5.4 degrees warmer than its surroundings. Without appropriate systems, heat islands will affect energy demands, air conditioning costs, air pollution, greenhouse gas emissions and water quality for all of the people living within them.
  • Green Roofing
    Even though these types of systems actually fall into their own category, they are known for providing similar benefits to those that we have listed above. They are gardens or mini-ecosystems that cover an existing roof with the aid of specially designed planters. This greenery will, essentially, shade the entertaining area and reduce heat transfer, thereby keeping the area beneath as cool as possible.

If you have been looking for ways to make your property more energy efficient, you should consider the ways that a new outdoor roofing system for your entertaining area could help. As you can see from the above list, you have a number of options when it comes to choosing a system and you will be able to choose the one that best suits your needs. There are plenty of specialists out there who will be more then willing to assist you with your choice, all you have to do is contact them!