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Cool Roofing Shingles

Written By Owens Corning Roofing

A roof plays a critical role in helping to protect your home from the elements.  Further, an asphalt shingle roof can potentially deliver energy-saving benefits when “COOL” asphalt shingles are installed. 

These shingles are engineered to have higher solar reflectance and thermal emittance properties that may help lower household energy consumption by keeping the roof cooler and may also help decrease CO emissions. We’ve rounded up a few of our experts to help explain why choosing COOL asphalt roofing shingles, even if not required, can have potential energy-saving benefits for your home. 

THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN YOUR ROOF AND THE SUN 

First things first, let’s understand how a roof reacts to heat from the sun, and the impact this relationship has on the temperature inside your home – and potentially on your energy bills. 

Diagram of the cool roofing shingles reaction to the sun

Illustration of How a Roof Reacts to Heat from the Sun

Three main things happen when the sun’s radiation hits the surface of an asphalt shingle roof: 

  • Absorption: Some level of heat is absorbed by the roof and transferred into the home. 
  • Solar Reflectance: The roof reflects a portion of the sun’s energy. Shingles with a higher solar reflectance allow less heat to transfer into a home. 
  • Thermal Emittance: The roof radiates some of the absorbed heat back into the atmosphere. Shingles with a higher thermal emittance also allow less heat to transfer into a home. 

Roof Heat Absorption 

If your attic is not properly ventilated and insulated, this absorbed heat may increase the temperature inside your home. This could contribute to increased energy costs, as you may need to run cooling devices or central air systems more often or at lower temperatures to keep the inside of your home feeling comfortable. 

If you notice that your energy bills are getting higher, you may want to have a roofing contractor come out to inspect your roof and attic for proper ventilation and insulation. 

Solar Reflectance

As the sun shines on your roof, it delivers visible and invisible (infrared and ultraviolet) light waves. What your roof does with reflecting the sunlight determines its solar reflectance. The more waves that are bounced back into the atmosphere, the higher the solar reflectance of the asphalt roofing shingle. 

The solar reflectance measurement ranges between 0.0 and 1.0, with 1.0 representing 100% reflectance, with no absorption. 

Thermal Emittance

As your roof absorbs solar radiation, it begins to heat up. Some of this radiated heat is dispersed into the surrounding atmosphere. This process of radiating previously absorbed heat is thermal emittance. 

Thermal emittance measurement ranges between 0.0 and 1.0 (sometimes referred to as a percentage between 0 and 100). The higher the number, the less heat transferred to the home. 

This measurement is often listed on specification sheets to better inform consumers. When choosing products based on high or low thermal emittance, keep your climate in mind. Materials with a high thermal emittance may be a better choice for hot, sunny regions while those with a low thermal emittance may help homes lower the heating load in severely cold climates. 

The Solar Reflectance Index (SRI) 

The Solar Reflectance Index, or SRI, is a calculation using the aged solar reflectance and thermal emittance measurements of the asphalt shingles materials. It ranges from 0 to 100. 

This measurement can be used as an indicator of how hot shingles are likely to become when they’re exposed to the sun. The lower the SRI value, the hotter the asphalt shingles are likely to be in sunlight. Conversely, roofing shingles with a higher SRI may help lower household energy consumption by keeping the roof cooler.  

In many cases, asphalt shingle manufacturers use a shingles third-party certified aged SRI value to demonstrate compliance with cool roof energy codes. 

What Are COOL Roofing Shingles?

Cool roofing shingles use solar-reflecting granules to help decrease the amount of heat transferred into your home. This not only helps keep interior areas cooler, but it could also reduce the strain on any home cooling devices. 

In addition to helping to keep your home more energy-efficient, Cool roofing shingles may also benefit the environment: 

  • Potentially save home energy consumption and CO2 emission 
  • Cool roofing shingles are engineered to have higher solar reflectance and thermal emittance properties that may help lower household energy consumption by keeping the roof cooler and may also help decrease CO2 emissions.  
  • The EPA is researching how to reduce the radiant atmospheric heat that accumulates in cities and among groups of buildings, also known as urban heat islands, with cool roofing materials. 
  • Comfortable interior temperatures lessen the need for electrical-fed cooling devices, like fans, air conditioners, and heat pumps, especially during peak use. This can significantly affect commercial customers who may pay additional fees for peak power. 
  • Less electrical usage leads to less power plant emissions, such as carbon and sulfur dioxides. 

For an asphalt roofing shingle to be classified as “Cool” under the energy codes, it needs to have a Cool Roof Rating Council (CRRC) rating for thermal emittance and solar reflectance. It also must meet the specific solar reflectance, thermal emittance and/or solar reflectance index values defined by the specific energy code. 

Cool roofing shingles are specially designed with solar-reflecting granules (granules that reflect the sun’s rays) to help decrease the amount of heat transferred into a home. These shingles can help make your home more comfortable and may even be required if you live in certain geographical areas. For residential homes, cool roofing shingle use is most prevalent in California. Read more about how to meet cool roofing code requirements in California

In addition to installing cool roofing shingles, proper levels of attic insulation can also have a large impact on energy cost savings

Cool Roof Shingle Colors

Typically, cool asphalt roofing shingles tend to be lighter hues that naturally reflect the sun better including whites, light grays, and light tans. The Owens Corning® COOL Roof Collection features a variety of colors ranging from as light as Shasta White to as dark as Night Sky. These deep, rich colors are unexpected for solar shingles giving you the curb appeal you want with the performance you need. 

Photo of a light colored house with gray COOL roofing shingles
TruDefinition® Duration® COOL Shingles in the color Mountainside

COOL Roofing Review

  • Even if not required by energy codes, cool asphalt roofing shingles may help lower household energy consumption by keeping the roof cooler, and may also help decrease CO2 emissions
  • Cool asphalt roofing shingles are characterized by 3 key values: solar reflectance, thermal emittance, and solar reflectance index (SRI). 
  • In many cases,asphalt roofing shingle manufacturers use a shingle’s third-party certified aged SRI value to demonstrate compliance with cool roof energy codes. This practice is prevalent in California. 
  • Asphalt roofing shingles with higher SRI ratings are “cooler” in the sunshine. Higher SRI ratings for shingles could mean greater reduction in cooling load on a home. 
  • Owens Corning asphalt shingle products labeled as “COOL” are rated with the Cool Roofing Rating Council (CCRC) for solar reflectance and thermal emittance. This is a requirement in some energy codes. 
  • Typically "COOL" asphalt shingles are lighter in color (white, light gray, light tan, etc.) The Owens Corning® COOL Roof Collection offers a wide range of colors from light to darker tones. 

Start Your COOL Roofing Project

Ready to take the next step towards building a more energy-efficient home? Whether you’re planning a total re-roof project or adding the finishing touches on your newly constructed house, Owens Corning Roofing can help. 

Owens Corning® COOL asphalt shingles meet various levels of cool roofing requirements and are available in a great selection of colors that complement many homes’ exteriors*. Plus, take advantage of the many state-specific incentive programs for home and business owners who use cool roofing materials. 

Find Owens Corning COOL roofing shingles available in your area, along with a trusted independent contractor in the Owens Corning Contractor Network. 

*COOL product availability varies by region. Duration® Premium COOL Shingles are available nationally in four colors. Shasta White shingles in Owens Corning’s Oakridge®  and  TruDefinition®Duration® shingle lines are available in most markets. Darker “COOL” colors are available only in California. 
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