19 May 08 
Arizona New Homes – Roof Color Matters!
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If you are looking to build a brand new home in Arizona, or to build a custom home in a similarly warm climate region, the color of your roof may make a significant difference in your utility bill. As anyone who has worn black clothing during midday in the Phoenix sun knows… your black clothing is absorbing the heat, causing you to be much warmer than you would be if you were to wear light colored clothes. The same principle applies to the color of your roof.
Studies provided by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and Florida Solar Energy Center have shown that by having a “cool roof” installed, will result in up to 40 percent energy savings—a savings of roughly $750 million each year, nationwide. A cool roof—light colored roof that aids in repelling sunlight—can reduce roof temperatures by about 50 – 60 degrees Fahrenheit. Even as much as 80 degrees, as shown in a BAS study where a black roof reached temperatures of 190 degrees and an identical white roof reached temperatures of only 110 degrees.
Read more about how to save on energy and how to build a greener home, by visiting GreenBuilderMag.com; to read their entire article on Cool Roofs click here.
Tags: Arizona new homes, cool roof, custom home, energy savings, florida solar energy center, green builder magazine, green home, lawrence berkeley national laboratory, phoenix
