The University of Texas at Arlington tested and compared attic temperatures, using a
small structure built within a laboratory to provide a controlled environment, of cedar
wood shake and asphalt fiberglass shingles.
Today, asphalt shingles are a very popular choice for many homeowners when purchasing a new roof due to their overall lower cost, lifetime manufactures warranty coverage, good walk-ability, attractive appearance and ease of being able to mount photogenic solar panels to their surface.
The only negative feature is the poor insulation qualities. Below are a few cutting-edge roofing techniques that Westshore Roofing offers to help cut your energy costs and make your house greener at the same time.
Energy Star® labeled roof products are reflective roof products that lower the roof surface temperature by up to 100°F, thereby decreasing the amount of heat transferred into a building's interior. Energy Star qualified roof products save money and energy by reducing the amount of air conditioning needed to keep a building comfortable. An Energy Star compliant high slope roof must have an initial solar reflectance of 25% and 15% after 3 years. 
Approximately $40 billion is spent annually in the United States to cool buildings, one-sixth of all energy consumed annually. Black and dark-colored roofing materials can dramatically increase a building's cooling load. Energy-efficient roofing systems, also called "cool roofs", can reduce roof temperature by as much as 100°F during the summer, and thereby reduce the building's energy requirements for air conditioning. Cool roofs reflect the sun's radiant energy before it penetrates into the interior of the building. In fact, reflective materials also help keep the building's neighborhood cool.
More and more, homeowners are seeking out energy-saving building materials for their renovations and new homes, products that not only secure and improve structures but also provide long-term cost-cutting on energy bills while promoting environmental and economic sustainability in the greater community.
Among the array of possible upgrades, “cool metal roofing” easily answers this consumer demand offering a solid, attractive roofing solution available in multiple colors, textures, and profiles, for steep-slope and low-slope applications, that can save your household up to 40% of its annual energy costs, depending on your geographical region.
