Watch CBS News

Is Your Roof Energy Efficient?

Managing a business is enough work without worrying that your building is letting hard earned money escape through an inefficient roof.

An energy-efficient roof can tame that energy bill and allow your focus to be where it's needed; on your business. Here are a few tips on keeping an energy-efficient roof over your head.

-Light Pigments – All commercial roofs are flat, and have historically been made of black tar. This encourages sunlight absorption and can dramatically increase cooling costs inside the building.  A light-colored roof can reflect up to 85% of the sun's rays and can decrease temperatures by 30oF in some cases.  But don't rip the roof off your building yet, 'Cool Roof' coatings are an option.  These thick paint-like substances are of a light or reflective color and can also protect against UV and chemical damage.  An alternative to these Cool Roofs is the use of TPO or PVC which creates a highly reflective surface similar to the coating.

-Insulation Effectiveness – Insulation is a key component to energy efficiency. Keeping the heat and the cold where you want it will decrease demand on your building systems and your wallet. A typical option for energy efficiency is to have Polyisocyanurate insulation installed over a metal roof, and then covered with a single ply membrane of TPO or PVC. Polyisocyanurate is a rigid foam used in the majority of commercial building construction and boasts the highest R-Value per inch of thickness. R-Value is a scale used to determine insulation efficiency, and that combined with Polyiso's virtually nonexistent impact on the environment, makes it a good option for your business.

-Tax rebates – Remember, energy-efficient roofs are about saving money as much as saving the environment. Be sure to look into the incentives available to you; installing an energy efficient roof can be beneficial when tax season comes around. A Federal tax credit exists for metal and asphalt roofs with pigmented coatings that have been ENERGY STAR (A government-backed designation) certified.

For further questions remember to contact the Southeastern Michigan Roofing Contractors Association at SMRCA.org.

 

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.