Black Roof Vs White Roof Energy Savings

In fact city councils throughout the country are adopting model codes which favor white over black roof systems touting energy efficiencies without considering key factors that greatly contribute to the actual efficiency and life of a roof.

Black roof vs white roof energy savings.

On a hot day a black roof can be as high as 100 degrees warmer than the air temperature while a white roof will only be 20 degrees warmer than air temperature. Look for an energy star rated roof for maximum energy savings. This is where you can really see your energy savings add up. Unfortunately that is only half of the equation.

During the hottest months of the year a white roof can significantly decrease your energy usage. Furthermore the days are much shorter. White issue almost non existent. For many buildings in temperate climates there is no air conditioning and no reduced air conditioning energy benefit for the use of a white roofing system and there is some heating benefit to black roofing in the winter the benefit varies with the amount of sunshine.

The debate between white roofs versus black roofs has raged on for years however recent science has shown the reflectivity of white roofs has given them the edge. So the energy savings that many people hope to realize by having a black roof in the winter just isn t ever realized. Find out what the most energy efficient roof color is plus the one thing that makes a much greater difference than roof color. The difference is palpable.

However even if you don t air condition your building you may want it cooler in the summer. Standard or dark roofs can reach temperatures of 150 f or more in the summer sun. Depending on the thickness of insulation that you install it can make the black vs. Polyisocyanurate poly iso is one of the most recommended types of insulation to be installed on a roof due to its density and high r value.

This type of coating will have a higher solar reflectance rating than a dark or black roof and may prevent up to 75 of solar heat from entering. By reflecting up to 88 of the sun s energy duro last s white membranes can greatly reduce energy consumption and costs making it an ideal energy efficient cool roofing solution. Of course living in a cold weather climate it is safe to say that for much of the winter the roof is white anyway because of snowfall. A cool roof under the same conditions could stay more than 50 f cooler and save energy and money by using less air conditioning.

Cool roofs can be made of a highly reflective type of paint a sheet covering or highly reflective tiles or shingles. A study by the united states department of agriculture found that wood roofing panels under black shingles were ten to fifteen degrees warmer than the same panels under white shingles on a sunny day. The 50 year life cycle cost analysis found that even the most inexpensive kind of green roof with no public access and consisting of only sedum or prairie grass costs 7 per square foot more than black roofs over 50 years while white roofs save 2 per square foot compared to black roofs.