As the fall season approaches in Illinois, many home and business owners will be thinking about ways to reduce their high winter energy bills. You may be looking at drafty doors, leaky windows, cold basements, and older HVAC systems, but one consideration that might not be immediately obvious is a new roof. 

A new roof can help you save energy, reduce your winter heating costs, and even lower your summer cooling costs. This is because installing a new roof will make your home more energy efficient. 

Older roofs are often composed of outdated roofing materials and building technology. They can break down and become even less energy efficient over time, allowing heat to penetrate in the summer and cold to penetrate in the winter. This makes your heating and cooling systems work harder, leading to higher energy bills.

If you are going to install a new roof, choosing materials and processes that increase energy efficiency is important. Here are the details on a few of ways your roof can insulate your home. 

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Solar Reflection: The more solar light your roof can reflect, the more energy-efficient it is. You don’t want your shingles to absorb the sun’s heat and transfer it into your home. Roofs with high solar reflection can have surface temperatures that are up to 30% lower, resulting in lower temperatures inside your home.

Roof Ventilation: Roofs with proper ventilation allow air to flow in and out of your attic. If a roof isn’t properly ventilated, your attic can trap hot air and heat up your entire house in the summer. 

Energy Star Rated Materials: Roofs built using Energy Star rated shingles offer better solar reflection, with Energy Star rated shingles being able to greatly lower the surface temperature of your roof. 

Shingle Color: Most of us understand that a white shirt or hat will keep you cooler than the same garment in black, but did you know that shingle color can do the same thing? As a result, the color of shingle you should choose will depend on your local weather and home temperature needs.  Homes with cold winters, like those in Chicago, benefit from dark shingles. This is an important factor to keep in mind when making your home design choices. 

Modern Shingle Materials: Just like phones, computers, and cars, shingles and roofing materials have also experienced immense technological improvements in recent years. This is why your old roof just isn’t as effective or energy-efficient as newer materials can be. New materials are better at keeping out extreme weather, and can help reduce your energy costs and maintenance needs. 

Improved Insulation: If your current attic and or roof is not well insulated, winter heat and summer air conditioning will both be able to escape from your home. This means that your HVAC system will have to work harder, and your bills will be higher. A roof replacement is a great time to add more insulation to your attic. 

Leak Prevention: Roof leaks can cause messy water damage and even mold, but they can also cause your energy bills to increase. If you have a leaky roof, air-conditioned or heated air will again be able to escape from your home. 

Call McMahon Services Today for Roof Replacement

Replacing (or even just repairing) the roof at your home or business has benefits beyond stopping leaks. It can also improve the appearance and value of your property, and it can make all of your HVAC systems more energy efficient. The result of this is a more comfortable home, and lower bills during the most extreme weather of the year. 
The roof is a very large surface that plays an equally large role in the comfort of your home. If you are ready to make it easier and more efficient to control the temperature inside your home or business, contact McMahon Services today to learn more about replacing your roof with modern, energy efficient materials and techniques.