| If you are in the market for a cool roof to save you | | | | a reflective or "cool" roofs. If you are looking for |
| money in energy bills and to do your part in helping | | | | a way to push your roof over the top in energy |
| the environment, there are many options out there | | | | savings, TOPCOAT is for you. It is a roofing |
| for you. Here are just a few products that are | | | | membrane designed to be sprayed over current |
| likely to grant you the best energy savings possible, | | | | roofs, whether it is a single-ply membrane or a metal |
| while offering the greatest protection for your home | | | | roof. It holds the Energy Star rating for its solar |
| or building. Flat Roofs If you own a flat roof, | | | | reflectivity. It has the similar effect of TPO: it |
| you are provided with convenient energy saving | | | | decreases the overall building temperature through it's |
| resources. Flat roofing membranes, unlike tar and | | | | solar reflectivity and thermal emmitance. In fact, |
| gravel roofs, are reflective and are designed to save | | | | TOPCOAT can save you up to 50% of your roof's |
| you energy and money. A flat roof membrane's | | | | original cost through energy savings. It also protects |
| high reflectivity will help to reduce the amount of | | | | seams and joints from wide temperature changes |
| energy required to cool a building and keep it cool | | | | that can negatively effect roofing performance. |
| throughout the hottest points of the year. This | | | | Pitched Roofs Even pitched roofs are following the |
| decreased amount of energy consumption causes a | | | | global trend of energy efficient building products. |
| lower amount of pollution to be generated back into | | | | Since most pitched roofs are residential, they have |
| the atmosphere and directly contributes to a cooler | | | | the potential to save your family from spending |
| and cleaner environment, all while you save a little | | | | money on unneccessary energy bills, while still helping |
| money. Some roofing membranes that are energy | | | | your house look good. They also qualify for a tax |
| efficient include: | | | | credit of up to $1500. Two examples of these cool |
| - TPO | | | | shingles are: |
| - EPDM | | | | - GAF's Timberline Cool Series |
| - TOPCOAT TPO is an extremely relfective | | | | - CertainTeed's Landmark Solaris GAF Timberline |
| roofing membrane. Versico's TPO membranes carry | | | | has introduced the Cool Series shingle in hopes of |
| the Energy Star rating, and succeeded in exceeding | | | | reducing attic temperatures, and thus reducing |
| the guidelines to meet that rating. TPO is solar | | | | energy costs and usage. They are designed with a |
| reflective and has a thermal emmitance level of .8 to | | | | greater reflectance than tradtional shingles that helps |
| .9, depending on the color. Versico's TPO is also | | | | to minimize the amount of heat leaking from your |
| listed as a CRRC (Cool Roof Rating Council) certified | | | | roof into your home. This shingle saves it's residents |
| product. This TPO is also 100% recyclable, as well | | | | an average of 7-15% of total cooling costs each |
| as made from safe materials that do not harm the | | | | year. In warmer climates, cooling cost savings may |
| environment. If you are looking for a roof that will | | | | be greater throughout the entire year. These |
| naturally cut down your energy bill, and also succeed | | | | shingles are based off of the design of the #1 |
| in helping the environment, TPO is for you. | | | | archetectural shingle in America, giving your home the |
| EPDM is a truly sustainable product. It is diverse | | | | beautiful look you want. Certainteed Roofing has |
| enough to fit the needs of virtually all of the | | | | also come out with a 'cool' shingle: Landmark Solaris. |
| different climates and building structures. For | | | | This shingle contains advanced color granules that |
| example, if a membrane is not thick enough in a cold | | | | reflect the sun. This succeeds in reducing the overall |
| climate zone, it will almost immediately result in higher | | | | roof temperature by up to 20% in the summer, |
| energy output and costs for the property owner. | | | | saving you money and energy. Landmark Solaris is |
| However, EPDM is able to work with different | | | | rated by the Cool Roof Rating Council, qualifies for |
| climates to create an energy efficient roof for you | | | | credits and points in LEED, NAHB, and other green |
| an any location. Though EPDM lacks the reflectivity | | | | programs, and meets the ENERGY STAR standards |
| of TPO, it makes up for it in thermal performance. | | | | for solar reflectance and thermal emission. |
| In fact, a recent study performed by the | | | | However, perhaps the best feature of this shingle is |
| Department of Energy and the EPDM Roofing | | | | it's beauty. It doesn't look like a cool shingle, but |
| Association showed that ballast and paver systems | | | | rather it is a beautiful architectural shingle that would |
| (such as EPDM roofing) can save as much energy as | | | | look great on any home. |