Energy efficient roofing?

[akwapez]

I need to have a roof replaced on my house soon. What energy efficient or environmental friendly issues should I be looking at? Location is in Tennessee, so we have warm summers and cool winters (not too extreme with either).

[Green0002]

1. Energy Efficient Roofing

Here you go!

http://www.energyefficientroofing.com/

[PetrusMonsFormicarum]

2. Check these folks out for ideas

http://www.backhomemagazine.com/

[24HRrnr]

3. I wouldn't worry about efficiency

as that can be handled by the insulative systems of the home - and an ideal time to do so is when you are re-roofing.

The primary purpose of the roof is to keep water out - water kills houses so management is critical. That should be you're first concern.

energy-wise, wood shingles have the lowest impact (energy used in production, renewable resource) but may present safety concerns due to fire (whole neighborhoods is CA were toast about 10-12 years ago because of the roofs). Metal roofs made of recycled aluminum are also efficient and last 40-50 years. You can get similar perfromance form concrete or clay tile but hey are very heavy and I don't recommend them for a retrofit. The last option would be a membrane system such as Duro-Last. Efficient by expense to repair if it tears. On a peaked roof, it will look really odd. A very good product for low slope or flat roofs.

Cheapest is asphalt composition. You won't improve your energy footprint using them but they are cheap.

[Kolesar]

4. Our Dupont bright white membrane roof worked out excellently

It is a sheet of thick plastic that is solvent or heat welded at the seams. It reflects 80% of the energy from the sun. We put it on an 8:1 pitch shed roof addition to the house that we called the sun room. It is quite comfortable in the summer now. It used to be too hot. There is also 5" of polyisocyanurate insulation below the new roof.

[kestrel91316]

5. Get a metal roof, install rain gutters and downspouts, and put in a CISTERN

so you can hold onto every drop of water that lands on your roof. Never can play it too safe, IMHO. Use that water on your flowers, lwan, vegetable garden, etc. In a pinch you can filter and drink it (rain water is pure distilled water except for the first little bit which might have some contamination before the air gets washed clean).

[XemaSab]

6. Rain water has a funky flavor, IMHO

:shrug:

[Dead_Parrot]

7. Depends on what's upwind...

It also depends on how many birds shit on your roof. Probably better to use it as grey water unless you want to treat it.

[XemaSab]

8. The only times I have imbibed rain water were in the Bay Area

so there shouldn't be much of anything "up wind," but it's got a sharp taste nevertheless. Might be the ions or something. :shrug:

[Nihil]

10. Even in a "clean" area rainwater will be very slightly acidic ...

... so, depending on your area and on your taste perception, it can be
a bit like flat soda water (no bubbles but still a "something other than
pure water" taste).

I remember dissuading my mum from washing her hair in rainwater (way back
when I was in secondary school) by using litmus paper to show how acidic
it was (not only turned blue litmus red but started to bleach the paper!)
but that was in an industrial town during the acid rain era of largely
unregulated SO2 emissions ... my family loved that little experiment as
apparently they'd been talking about the subject the previous evening and
they hadn't been able to persuade her that the benefits of washing in
"natural water" rather than chlorinated tap water were more than outweighed
by all the crap that the factories in the area were putting out.
:shrug:

[XemaSab]

12. It almost had an earthy flavor, like soil

(Yes, I am a soil scientist and I have tasted soil. :hide: )

[Egalitarian]

9. Lots of variables...

If you don't currently have ridge venting, you should probably add it. Not much additional cost and much lower attic temps in summertime. Sofit venting area should be equal to or greater than ridge venting area as I recall. Add attic insulation baffles if needed/not present.

If you go metal, look into adding a radiant barrier to keep down attic temps. Not sure if these make sense or not- probably application dependent, and probably not applicable(ceiling insulation usually trumps this I think).

Cool roofs last longer. Steep pitched roofs last longer. Low pitch roofs that face south, with poor ventilation have a shortened life span. It is commonplace practice to roof over existing asphalt shingles until three layers thick. More layers=hotter roof=shorter lifespan. Just the way it is. Dark colors absorb light energy more than light colors which are more reflective, hence cooler. Many commercial flat roofs are now white; someday we may even clean our polished white roofs to keep them cooler IMO.

[akwapez]

11. Thanks for the replies

I now have some more info before talking with contractors.