Do I Need a White Roof?

This week , the U.S. Secretary of Energy encouraged Americans to paint their roofs white, in an effort to reduce global warming by both conserving energy and reflecting sunlight back into space. Speaking in London prior to an international summit on combating climate change, Dr. Chu said that the simple act of painting roofs white could have a dramatic impact on the amount of energy used to keep buildings comfortable.

A white roof is a good idea, but a highly reflective metal roof is even better. New technologies allow even darker colored metal roofs to absorb less heat through the use of highly reflective pigments that reflect solar energy.

“The EPA reports that $40 billion is spent annually in the United States to cool buildings. That’s an extraordinary amount of money,” states Tom Black, executive director of the non-profit Metal Roofing Alliance (MRA). “We applaud Dr. Chu’s intent, however in reality; white roofs aren’t feasible for most homeowners. Curb appeal rules. The good news is that highly reflective residential metal roofing is available in a wide variety of styles and colors to suit any home.”

The MRA was formed to answer homeowners and contractors’ questions about residential metal roofing, including their energy benefits and environmental impact. For more information, visit http://www.metalroofing.com/

Preventing the Spread of Forest Fires

Along with clearing brush and debris away from a home, installing a metal roof is one of the best proactive steps that homeowners can take to reduce the chance of a house being destroyed by fire, and restrict a fire’s ability to spread.

Recent wildfires in California burned destroyed 78 homes, with an estimated cost of at least $120 million in damages.

Most forest fires decimate residential communities through burning pine needles and other debris blown from roof to roof. More conventional roofs, such as wood shake or asphalt (a petroleum-based product), catch fire relatively easily and the home subsequently burns to the ground. With a metal roof, however, those same homes could be saved.

Today’s metal roofs are available in many colors and styles, ranging from shake to shingle to Spanish tile. As a result, these highly durable roofs that resist fires and save energy are also perfect for any neighborhood.

For more information on wildfire prevention, and a home checklist, visit the California Department of Forestry and Fire Prevention.