Although a new roof is not a cheap investment, the payback is huge. While a new roof ensures you and your family are safe and increase your home value, it also helps save on energy cost. You can save money on gas and electricity bills by investing in a roof replacement in Calgary.
If you have been experiencing issues with your roof along with increased energy bills due to energy loss in your home, it is time to replace your old roof. A bad roof or an aging roof is a principal cause of air infiltration and moisture, resulting in mould and mildew growth on parts of your home, such as the wood beams, insulation and drywall.
If you have been considering having a new roof installed in Calgary but are trying to justify the cost, then you can look as it can help save money on energy bills. We will take a look how a new roof saves money on gas and electricity bills and why the investment is worth it.
Energy Prices and a New Roof
Many factors are responsible for the hike in electricity and gas prices. We can look and many geopolitical factors from the sanctions on Russia.
Although gas prices have constantly been increasing in Calgary and Canada generally, Russia has reduced oil supply since the start of the invasion of Ukraine. This has brought about a tremendous supply shortage in the oil market, which is a drive for the higher oil price.
Similarly, electricity tariffs have increased, and it tells on how many homeowners spend keeping their homes cool and warm when required.
Even as an oil and gas producing province, basic oil and gas demand around impact our prices at home. As a complex, multifaceted issue, we encourage looking into these effects yourself to form your own conclusions.
Unfortunately, the situation is expected to continue, and homeowners will spend more on gas to keep their homes cool during the summer and warm during winter. Hence, investing in a new roof for higher energy efficiency makes sense to help save money on long-term electricity bills.
How a New Roof Helps Reduce Energy Costs
Gas prices are rising, and this doesn’t promise to end at least anytime soon. Installing a new roof can help reduce your gas and electricity usage, as a new roof is more efficient than an older one.
An older roof has lost almost all its value and cannot keep up with what it was designed for. Hence, it cannot keep heat out of the home during the hot weather, putting more stress on your air conditioners and ultimately resulting in higher energy bills if you continue with the old roof.
Improved Technology
One way a new roof beats an older roof in terms of energy efficiency is technology. Older roofs were built with old technology, but since technology advances constantly, new roofs feature new technology with improved energy efficiency and protection.
Although, Fall is the best month to install a new roof. During the winter, snow, and ice gather on the roof and absorb heat through the old roof, resulting in heat loss in the home. We know what this means to energy bills. It also can highlight any ventilation issues from the previous installation. This can lead to costly repairs, including damage from attic rain.
Solar Reflection
Another way a new roof saves money on gas and electricity bills is solar reflection. A good roof is efficient at reflecting solar light, but unfortunately, old roofs are poor at this. With sunlight not reflected, an old roof absorbs heat and sends it to the living spaces during hotter months.
Comparatively, modern roofs are highly efficient at reflecting sunlight away from the roof, reducing the surface temperature by at least 30%. This is thanks to new technology and materials with high reflectance value, which is necessary for hot summer months.
You might think that having this darker colour is good for winter. Well, unfortunately due to snow and the reflection that provides, any positives will be mitigated.
Roof Ventilation
Another thing a new roof does is to regulate the airflow between the roof and the attic. Proper airflow between these two parts is important to keep the home comfortable and cool for occupants during hotter months.
An old roof is prone to losing adequate airflow in the attic due to bad vents, preventing hot air from escaping the large unoccupied space. These transfers heat to the living spaces, increasing the living space temperature. The ultimate result is spending more on electricity and gas for cooling your home.
While you can consider installing a new ventilation system on your old roof, it is not cheap. Installing a new roof with a professional roofer like Whalley Four Seasons Roofer ensures everything is taken care of from scratch. Typically, it’s good to take care of the whole roofing system, especially if you’re looking at increasing saving from energy consumption.
Shingle Colours
Your roof colour contributes to how much heat is kept out of the home. While darker colours absorb heat, light-coloured roofs are better at reflecting heat away from the roof. The best shingle colour for your home depends on your home’s location. If you reside in areas with cold weather, you would be good with a dark roof, while it makes sense to choose a lighter roof for a home in hot regions.
If your old roof doesn’t comply with this rule, you might suffer some increase in your energy bill, and now is a good time to consider a new installation.
Energy Star Rating
Energy Star rates building materials and consumer products for energy efficiency. Roofs with Energy Start labels give the assurance of improved energy efficiency. Hence, if your old roof has a bad energy efficiency rating, installing a new roof ensures you can decide a roof with this label and improve your energy saving.
Energy-Start-rated shingles are efficient at keeping the home cooler by up to 100 degrees. Hence, building your roof with these shingles means it can reflect solar energy away from your home instead of transmitting it into the living space.
Modernized Shingles
Thanks to technology, roofs are getting better at protecting the home. While outdated shingles do less at preventing the home from the elements, new shingles are better at keeping you and your family safe. New shingles feature improvements to ensure safety and energy loss reduction, including improved resistance against heat flow and increased metal content for protection against elements.
How Much Can You Save With Roof
It is difficult to say how much you will make from your new energy-efficient roof precisely, as it depends on several factors. However, achieving a rough estimate of your potential saving is not impossible.
Studies show that a new energy-efficient shingle roof can help save up to 30% on energy costs. Furthermore, with the increase in gas prices and electricity tariffs, a major cause why homes and businesses are cutting back on their energy usage, expect your savings to go up with a new roof.
Start by calculating how much you spend cooling your home every month. Doing quick math using this data along with the 30% expected saving will give you an idea of your expected savings when installing a new roof.
For example, if you spend $200 cooling your home every month, expect to save around $60 per month and an annual $720 saving on gas and electricity bills.
How to Save Money with a New Roof
Saving money with a new roof is not only about installing a roof, but requires some homework too. If you do your findings diligently, you will get the best of your roof and save more money. Here are a few factors to consider when installing a new roof for improved energy efficiency to save money on electricity and gas bills.
Choose the Right Roof
Your journey to installing a new roof to save money starts with identifying the right roof for your home. The roofing market is littered with a long list of roof types, and knowing which one is best for you will save you more money.
Deciding which roof type to go for is also dependent on a few factors, such as location, budget, and available materials.
Location
Your location is a significant factor when selecting a roof type for your home. Remember that some roofs are better in colder climates, while some perform best in hotter areas. It is also worth emphasizing that darker shingles made with heat-absorbing materials are a great choice for cold areas, since they help transfer heat into the living area.
However, since you aim to save money by keeping heat out of the home during summer, especially if you reside in a hot area, your best bet is a light roof with improved sunlight-reflection characteristics.
Available Shingles
Another factor to consider for a highly energy-efficient roof is the available shingles. Shingles are available in different materials, styles, and colours. Common shingles include metal, asphalt, concrete, clay, wood, solar, and rubber. We offer durable class 4 shingles and Euroshield Shingles that also help protect against storm damage.
However, regardless of your budget and available materials, shun the idea of installing aluminum roofs or unpainted metal roofs if you want to save money on your energy bills. These roofs are the worst for energy efficiency, disrupting your goal of reducing gas and electricity bills. Metals are great at absorbing heat, but poor at reflecting it into the atmosphere. Instead, it absorbs heat from the hot atmosphere and transfers it into the home. This is why a car feels hot for some time if left in the sun for a prolonged period.
Chose a Professional Roofer
Unfortunately, your new roof, which you have spent a lot of money on, can reduce your home’s energy efficiency. While your roofing material plays a significant role in your roof’s energy efficiency, your roofer also plays a part. One mistake homeowners often make is choosing the right roofing materials but the wrong roofer.
Issues you are likely to face if your roof is not properly installed include humidity issues, drafts, temperature fluctuations, and, most importantly, reduced energy efficiency.
The question is, how do you decide the appropriate roofer for high-energy efficiency?
Deciding the appropriate roof also includes considering plenty of factors. You want to be sure that your roofer is well-trained and professional. Your roofer must be trained and experienced at installing your type of roof for the best installation. It is also important to review your roofer’s licenses and ensure they are licensed to install your roof type.
Some roofers also recommend products for customers, but ensure they align with what you are looking for.
Conclusion
Installing a new roof carries a huge upfront cost, but it is an excellent investment to increase your home’s energy efficiency and cut back on electricity and gas bills. A new roof comes with the promise of advanced technology, meaning your home can enjoy the latest technology when you install a new roof. Plus, a new roof is less prone to wear and tear than older roofs suffer, ensuring that you and your family are safe in your home.
Overall, you will solve many problems, such as drafts, leaks, and improper ventilation, with a roof replacement.
Finally, choose the right roofer for your roof installation for the best experience. Deciding the right roofing contractor like Whalley’s Four Season Roof means getting the best of your roof and increasing your home’s energy efficiency.
Contact us for your new roof with high-energy efficiency to save money on your energy bills in Calgary and anywhere in Canada.
