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How your roof colour can contribute towards your energy costs

Dark vs light roofs

Roof colour is one factor that affects your home’s internal temperature and can impact overall energy efficiency. In general, lighter-colored roofs reflect away heat rays from the sun, but dark-colored roofs absorb much of that heat and transfer it into the rooms below. With a lighter roof, your home absorbs less heat through it during summertime. As a result, your air con system operates more efficiently, uses less energy, and leads to lower power bills.

In contrast, a dark roof likely raises the temperature inside your home’s highest rooms. Your cooling system works harder to compensate for the extra heat, and your energy  bills slowly rise. But during winter, it’s the opposite as a dark roof brings in more desired heat from the sun than a light roof. Dark roofs can be advantageous in colder climates with long winters and short summers which is why we emphasise on building for your unique environment.

Light vs dark roof

Download our step by step Green Building Guide for other ways to help with energy efficiency in your next home.