Metal Roofing & Energy Efficiency

When it comes to energy efficiency, it’s all about materials. Metal roofs are considered one of the most energy-efficient roofing materials on the market. Why? As they reflect heat up and away from a home, they can save homeowners up to 40% in energy costs! When determining the energy efficiency of materials, otherwise known as thermal performance, three things are accounted for.

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Thermal resistance is a heat property and a measurement of a temperature difference by which an object or material resists a heat flow.

Emissivity is the relative power of a surface to emit heat by radiation up and away.

Reflectivity is the ability to reflect heat back to the direction from which it came.

The magic behind metal roofing's energy savings is in its variety of finishes. A basic, unpainted metal roof will have a higher reflectivity than an asphalt roof, which absorbs and holds heat. In warmer weather, like we experience here inFlorida, pre-painted or granular coated metal roofing reflects solar energy and cools your home by re-emitting most of what solar radiation is absorbed. A metal roof with high reflectivity and emissivity that’s painted or granular-coated is optimal for reducing energy consumption. Also, it can reemit up to 90% of absorbed solar radiation!

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Large warehouses utilize the emissive properties of metal roofing to keep their buildings cool and energy costs low. As mentioned earlier, metal reflects energy from the sun up then away, unlike asphalt shingles that absorb the energy and transmit heat down into the home.

It’s easier to understand how metal reflects heat by considering a car. Even with the heat from the engine below and from the sun above, the metal hood cools quickly once the engine is off, and the car is parked in the shade. The metal dissipates heat so well that, in just a few minutes, the hood of the car will feel cooler to the touch than the surrounding air.

If you’re looking to make your home more energy efficient, trust the experts at Florida Roof Masters. Our specialists can not only educate you on metal roofing and its benefits, but can also ensure your roof is it in for the long haul to save on energy costs.