Architectural Roof Tips for Energy Efficiency for Cooler Months

Winters can become a challenge to achieve energy efficiency. It takes a merger of building maintenance, calculated design, and competent materials to reduce heat loss in commercial buildings.

Thankfully, architects and builders have deployed effective techniques to ensure energy efficiency in colder regions.

Roofing Tips for the Winter

Variables like the building's height, roof type, and gradient all influence the performance of energy efficiency. By optimizing one phase of a building—in this case, roofing—you can achieve your goal of energy efficiency.

Roofing is further rectified in two ways: sloped roofing and color.

·       Sloped Roofing

Sloped roofs are a part of many homes, but industrial or commercial buildings like schools or skyscrapers tend to have flat roofs. In extreme winters, snow falls regularly. Many buildings suffer more since the snow stays due to the flatness of the roof.

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The energy efficiency of a building is impacted by heavy snow. The situation worsens when the roof is flawed with a crack or leak under pressure. The faults give all the space for the heat to escape the building and permit freezing air.

If a roof is marginally sloped, then that is better since it will allow snow to melt off of the roof without damaging anything.

·       Color

The color of the roof affects energy efficiency as well. Different shades perform differently when it comes to absorbing heat. In colder climates, buildings will ingest more heat if their roofs are dark-colored, while lighter colors absorb less heat.

Light-colored roofing is preferred in warmer climates as it's better able to reflect sunlight, enhancing the building's energy efficiency.

Meanwhile, colder regions opt for dark-colored roofs that can absorb more heat from the sun, even on cold days. Then, this heat is evenly distributed throughout a building. Plus, the warmth will help the snow melt.

Solar Design

The natural daylight source, the sun, takes the lead when it comes to achieving energy efficiency. A building that is designed in a way that lets in static solar exposure is going to take more points in efficiency.

The passive solar design's purpose is to heat the building with the help of the sun so that there is no need for any artificial or extra energy to be used. In colder regions, passive solar exposure becomes essential for constructing a building.

Another method to design a building that absorbs or lets in the sun without using unnecessary energy is planning the architecture in such a way that the building witnesses the rising sun.

Materials Used in the Building

Metal, asphalt roofing, composite and slate shingles, and carpet are considered best for absorbing heat, reducing reliance on a central heating system.

If you're considering investing in architectural changes to make your building more energy-efficient this winter, consider contacting the architects at Oza Sabbeth for a design consultation.