Metal Roofing Energy Savings

Metal Roofing = Energy Savings for Miami Area Homeowners

More and more homeowners in the Miami area are seeking out energy-saving building materials for their renovations and new homes. These are products that not only secure and improve structures, but also provide long-term cost-cutting on energy bills, while promoting environmental and economic sustainability.

Among the array of possible upgrades, metal roofing easily answers this consumer demand by offering a solid, attractive roofing solution, available in multiple colors, textures, and profiles that can save your household more than 40% of its annual energy costs, depending on your geographical region.

Durability is also adding to the appeal of metal roofing. In the past few years, metal roofs have become increasingly popular with homeowners across the country, but particularly in Southern Florida where weather conditions can sometimes be quite harsh.

With the introduction of new designs that replicate the look of traditional residential roofing materials, many homeowners find metal roofing’s less-obvious advantages – such as energy savings – to be even more attractive.  This also relates to the long-term cost savings over the total life of the roof.

The Benefits of Energy-Efficient Metal Roofing

Reports show that the installation of reflective metal roofing can save your home in summer cooling energy costs, while highly emissive metal roofs can reduce urban air temperatures by as much as 12 ° F. Combined, these benefits mean less money out of your wallet, less dependence on energy resources and less general air pollution in your neighborhood and across the nation.

The secret to metal roofing’s energy savings is in its variety of finishes. The basic, unpainted metal roof will reflect much of the solar radiation usually absorbed in your attic and home by an asphalt roof. But for homes in warmer climates, pre-painted or granular coated metal roofing systems not only reflect solar energy but also cool your home by re-emitting most of what solar radiation is absorbed.

Where annual cooling loads dominate, a highly-reflective and highly-emissive painted or granular-coated metal roof is optimal for reducing energy consumption and can actually re-emit up to 90% of absorbed solar radiation.

Additionally, most metal roofing – including standing seam – is composed of recycled material which reduces landfill waste and promotes quick installation as well as decades of environmentally sound and low maintenance strength and beauty.

Conventional roofing materials tend to absorb and retain heat, therefore requiring more energy to maintain a cooler living space. Many conventional roofing materials – asphalt shingles, for example – absorb energy from the sun. Metal, on the other hand, reflects most of the sun’s rays, and also cools more quickly. As a result, the attic space remains cooler, as does the living space below.

Add to that the fact that in December 2010 Congress extended the Energy Efficiency Tax Incentives, which can save you $500 and 10% of installed cost for qualified roofing.  This makes the installation of metal roofing on your Miami-based home even more appealing.