Brad

Steven Chu, the recently appointed US Secretary of Energy and a Nobel Prize-winning scientist, said on May 26th of this year, that if we changed our roof color to white and also made our roads a lighter color instead of black, that we’d make a substantial impact in reducing global warming. The effect, he said in a report published by The Independent, would be the same as if we removed all the cars from roads for a period of 11 years. There’s actually scientific evidence to back this up.

Doing the Math on the White Roof

In a report published in the Christain Science Monitor, Dr. Hashem Akbari, a researcher at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, calculated that the net effect of painting a single 1000 square foot roof white is equal to removing 10 tons of carbon dioxide emissions from the atmosphere. The white roof works in two ways, first it helps keep the inside of the building cooler, reducing the need for air conditioning during the summer months. Second, it reflects sunlight back out into space. If sunlight falls on a dark colored roof, much of it is converted into heat instead. By reflecting it back out of the atmosphere with a white roof, that heat accumulation is prevented.

Homeowner White Roof Options

So what should the environmentally conscious homeowner do in light of this information? Many roofing companies offer tiles or shingles that are either white or a light pastel color that is nearly as effective at reflecting sunlight as the white colored materials. At present, largely because the annual production volumes are lower for these light colors, homeowners will pay a premium for white or light pastel roofing.

White Roof Tax Incentives

The sunshine heavy states of Georgia and Florida offer tax incentives that can partially offset the extra cost. Even the federal government is chipping in with tax credits for installation of the most energy efficient roofing materials. In 2009, a tax credit of up to $1500 is available is your roofing upgrade qualifies. Because of its higher rate of reflectivity, light colored metal roofs are considered to be among the most eco-friendly options and many suppliers and installers are approaching customers with the tax credit and energy savings details in order to show how inexpensive these energy efficient roofing systems can be for the homeowner.

White Roof Aesthetics and Recommendations

On the downside, some homeowners, depending upon the style and color of their house and other buildings in the neighborhood, may find that a white or pastel colored roof just doesn’t pass muster from an aesthetic perspective. That’s a personal choice based on the tastes of the individual homeowner. Even if you do find the lighter colors acceptable for your house, no one is really advocating that you rush out and replace a perfectly good roof. On the other hand, when you do need a roof repaired or replaced, ask you contractor about energy efficient roofing materials, tax credits and lighter colors. A quality contractor will be happy to explain the options to you, although homeowners should be forewarned, those who specialize is black asphalt roofing materials will be quick to throw cold water on the whole idea.