search
cart
facebook twitter linkedin youtube instagram Spotify Podcasts Apple Podcasts Spotify Podcasts Apple Podcasts
  • Sign In
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
  • NEWS
  • TOPICS
    • Cool Roofing
    • Event News
    • Latinos in Roofing
    • Low Slope
    • Legal
    • Metal
    • Project Profiles
    • Roofing Supply Pro
    • Roofing Safety
    • Steep Slope
    • Sustainable Roofing
    • Technology
  • EXCLUSIVES
    • Best of Success
    • Contractor Profile
    • IRE Show
    • Roofing Contractor of the Year
    • Top 100
    • Young Guns
    • State of the Industry
    • Century Club
  • MULTIMEDIA
    • Videos
    • Podcasts
    • Interactive Spotlights
    • Roofing Quizzes
    • IRE Videos
    • Webinars
    • Photo Galleries
  • PRODUCTS
    • New Products
    • Featured Products
  • COLUMNS
    • Editor's Note
    • Exit Planning
    • Legally Speaking
    • Safety Advice
    • Technical Details
    • Guest Column
  • EVENTS
    • International Roofing Expo
    • Webinars
    • Best of Success Conference
    • Industry Events
  • DIRECTORY
    • Associations
    • Distributors
    • Manufacturer/Supplier
    • Business Services
    • Get Listed
  • MORE
    • Roofing Contractor eNews
    • RC Store
    • Roofing Supply Pro
    • Custom Content & Marketing Services
    • Market Research
    • Sponsor Insights
    • Company Spotlights
    • Classifieds
      • Auctions
      • Business For Sale
      • Business Opportunities
      • Equipment For Sale
      • Positions Available
      • Products
      • Safety
      • Software
      • Services
      • Training
    • Contact Us
  • EMAGAZINE
    • eMagazine
    • Advertise
      • Media Kit
      • Editorial Calendar
      • Contact
    • Archive Issues
  • SIGN UP!

Energy Calculators

By Drew Ballensky
April 2, 2008
ENERGY STAR’s Roofing Comparison Calculator is equipped with a user-friendly functionality that anyone on the building team can use with ease. Developed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as part of its mission to accelerate the market penetration of energy-efficient building technologies, the calculator analyzes several key variables, and is a highly recommended exercise when contemplating a change from a black roof system to an ENERGY STAR-rated white one, or determining the savings when considering among alternatives on a new building.

Creating an oasis of cool white amidst a sea of asphalt and darker roofs, a Duro-Last roof is shown on the Best Western Hotel, Page, Ariz. Photo courtesy of Vinyl Roofing Division, Chemical Fabrics and Film Association.


Common sense tells us that a low-slope reflective roofing system should improve a building’s energy efficiency and save money on energy costs versus a black roof. After all, in full sun, the surface of a black roof may experience a temperature rise of as much as 90 degrees Fahrenheit, reaching mid-day temperatures of 150-190 degrees. A white reflective roof typically increases only 10 to 25 degrees above ambient temperature under the same conditions.

But how can you get a quantitative analysis of the potential energy savings for your building without performing a detailed building energy simulation? Simpler Web-based tools exist that can help architects, specifiers, roofing contractors, building owners or facility managers assign an estimated value on the annual energy savings that can accrue during the life of a typical commercial white reflective roof versus a non-reflective black roof.

ENERGY STAR Roofing Calculator.

ENERGY STAR’s Roofing Comparison Calculator is one such tool, equipped with a user-friendly functionality that anyone on the building team can use with ease. Developed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as part of its mission to accelerate the market penetration of energy-efficient building technologies, the calculator analyzes several key variables, and is a highly recommended exercise when contemplating a change from a black roof system to an ENERGY STAR-rated white one, or determining the savings when considering among alternatives on a new building.

The calculator automatically balances cooling savings from a light-colored roof with minor increases in heating costs - sometimes referred to as the heating penalty - that could accrue by not having a dark roof in the winter. (Many buildings with black roofs have de facto white roofs at least part of the winter due to snow cover.)

Savings from installing ENERGY STAR-labeled roof products will depend on the geographic location and climate where it is installed, existing insulation levels in the building, the type of roof it replaces, the type of roof installed, and how efficient the HVAC system is. Roofs that are lightly insulated, i.e., roofs with 1 inch of insulation or less, will see the greatest savings. The following inputs are evaluated:
  • Building Details - The building’s age, use and number of days of operation per week.
  • HVAC - Efficiency ratings of the building’s HVAC system, factoring in the system’s age and rigor with which it is maintained; use of ENERGY STAR-labeled products can be noted. With many air conditioning units already absorbing massive amounts of solar energy from rooftop locations, a surrounding cool roof can do much to reduce the strain on the system over time.
  • Roof Details - R-value of the insulation; solar reflectance value of the existing dark roof; that same value for the reflective material being considered, and the square footage of the air-conditioned roof area.
  • Energy Prices - Electricity/natural gas costs for the area; if this data is not at hand, the U.S. Energy Information Administration (www.eia.doe.gov) generates average energy prices by state.
  • Building Location - City and state only; needed to generate cooling and heating degree day calculations from the nearest National Weather Service facility. These indices express the difference between a reference value of a comfortable 65° F/18° C and the average outside temperature, leading to the number of “degree days” the temperature variations are likely to result in heating or air conditioning decisions.


Duro-Last roof shown on the Chino Medical Group, Chino, Calif. Photo courtesy of Vinyl Roofing Division, Chemical Fabrics and Film Association.

The heating and cooling degree day information generated from this exercise can be moved into other calculators for insulation, which are also available online. ASHRAE 90.1, the national model energy code for commercial buildings, sets forth the degree to which a project’s insulation may be reduced (by climate zone) if a cool roof is installed.

It’s hard to ignore year-after-year energy savings on a roof system that will be a part of your building for many years. ENERGY STAR-rated cool roofing systems are an easy choice to save on cooling costs and reduce energy consumption.

For more information about cool roofing, and to find links to this and other cool roof calculators, visit www.vinylroofs.org.

Share This Story

Looking for a reprint of this article?
From high-res PDFs to custom plaques, order your copy today!

Drew Ballensky is general manager of Duro-Last Roofing Inc.'s Sigourney, Iowa, plant and company spokesman for Duro-Last's cool roofing and architectural education programs.

Recommended Content

JOIN TODAY
to unlock your recommendations.

Already have an account? Sign In

  • Roofing Contractor Group Publisher Jill Bloom

    Physics, the Power of Authenticity and You

    In February's Publisher's Note, Jill Bloom describes a...
    Columns
    By: Jill Bloom
  • The Family Food Fare supermarket in Midland, Mich.

    ‘Rooftop Ninja’ Discovered Living on Roof, Inside Grocery Sign

    A bizarre tale out of Midland, Mich.: a woman dubbed the...
    Roofing News
    By: Bryan Gottlieb
  • A before and after heat measurement comparison

    How Hot is Too Hot in the Attic?

    If the ventilation is working, how hot should the attic...
    Steep Slope Roofing
    By: Paul Scelsi
You must login or register in order to post a comment.

Report Abusive Comment

Manage My Account
  • eMagazine Subscription
  • Sign Up for the eNewsletter
  • Online Registration
  • Manage My Preferences
  • Subscription Customer Service

More Videos

Sponsored Content

Sponsored Content is a special paid section where industry companies provide high quality, objective, non-commercial content around topics of interest to the Roofing Contractor audience. All Sponsored Content is supplied by the advertising company and any opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and not necessarily reflect the views of Roofing Contractor or its parent company, BNP Media. Interested in participating in our Sponsored Content section? Contact your local rep!

close
  • An overhead view of a residential block
    Sponsored byCBIZ CompuData

    From Spreadsheets to Strategy: How Roofing Companies Can Transform Financial Operations

  • Snow Guard Solutions for Metal Roofs by S-5!
    Sponsored byS-5!

    Safeguard Your Building: How Snow Guards Prevent Costly Roof & Property Damage

  • A hand holding a wooden block that reads 'EVOLVE'
    Sponsored byWatercress Financial

    Embracing Change: A New Era for the Roofing Industry

Popular Stories

Agentes de ICE arrestaron a casi una docena de empleados de una empresa de techos en Lowell, Massachusetts. Los arrestos son parte de una redada federal más amplia contra la contratación no autorizada y las violaciones migratorias en Boston.

ICE Redondea a Equipo de Techos Afuera de Boston

QXO CEO Brad Jacobs will share the company’s strategic vision today at the Wolfe Research Global Transportation & Industrials Conference in New York following its acquisition of Beacon Roofing Supply..

QXO’s Brad Jacobs Charts Growth at Wolfe Research Conference

Florida has become the focal point for construction-site raids, attracting national attention and altering labor dynamics throughout the industry.

Florida Emerges as the Epicenter of ICE Raids

Roofing Contractor Webinar

Events

December 3, 2025

The Premier Roofing Conference: Best of Success

Join roofing professionals from across the nation at the 2025 Best of Success conference, the ultimate destination for roofing professionals seeking the latest industry insights and networking opportunities. Pick up strategies for critical challenges like workforce shortage with innovative solutions, explore the latest advancements in roofing technology and sustainable practices, and gain valuable insights from industry leaders on navigating the evolving roofing landscape.

View All Submit An Event

Related Articles

  • Cool Roofing: Beyond Cool and Sustainable

    See More
  • Stealth Benefits

    See More
×

Be in the forefront of the roofing industry!

Join thousands of professionals today. Shouldn’t you know what they know?

JOIN NOW!
  • RESOURCES
    • Advertise
    • Contact Us
    • Directories
    • Store
    • Want More
  • SIGN UP TODAY
    • Create Account
    • eMagazine
    • eNewsletter
    • Customer Service
    • Manage Preferences
  • SERVICES
    • Marketing Services
    • Reprints
    • Market Research
    • List Rental
    • Survey/Respondent Access
  • STAY CONNECTED
    • LinkedIn
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • YouTube
    • X
  • PRIVACY
    • PRIVACY POLICY
    • TERMS & CONDITIONS
    • DO NOT SELL MY PERSONAL INFORMATION
    • PRIVACY REQUEST
    • ACCESSIBILITY

Copyright ©2025. All Rights Reserved BNP Media.

Design, CMS, Hosting & Web Development :: ePublishing