Energy Saving

1. Energy Saving Roofing

Why is this so important for energy saving?

Since a roof breathes (roof ventilation under a roof deck), it’s one the places where HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) energy gets transferred faster between the home environment and the outside conditions.

For instance, a house in need of a roof repair can cost the homeowner thousands of dollars in HVAC costs if the job is delayed along the years.

2. Think of installing a cool roof

Cool roofs are designed to reflect sunlight and absorb less heat than traditional ones, making them ideal in hot, dry climates. It’s the surface that is exposed to the sun which determines how cool a roof actually is.

Depending on the build and condition of your current roof, you can choose to either refit or replace your roofing in order to achieve top energy efficiency.

Get in touch and together we can make your home a bit brighter!

3. Old roofs aren’t designed for solar panel installation

With that in mind, if your roof doesn’t conform to the standards, there is no roof repair or alterations you can make, having only one suitable option: getting a new roof.

At least you’d be pleased to learn that a new roof can return 85% or more of its investment costs back upon resale.

4. Don’t ignore the gutters!

Well-maintained gutters are also important for energy savings. If your gutters are full of debris, ice dams will form on your roof top, making your home colder and affecting your solar system.

Problems can also occur if the gutters leaks or if the gutter installation was not done properly in the first place. Even in warm climates, poor gutter maintenance means that residues can accumulate, not allowing the house to ‘breathe’ the way it was intended to.

So clean your gutters!

Now, let’s take a look at the other critical factor for an energy efficient home:

B. The siding

Since different siding means different energy efficiency, we’ll compare the most popular siding choices and how they influence the home energy saving costs.

1. Wood Siding

Though coming in several wood options, by far the most popular wood siding is the cedar siding. No wonder, since cedar is a great, durable insulator.

A Cedar siding can withstand warm, hot climates, as well as harsh winter conditions, with the added bonus of offering an elegant outside finish throughout the seasons.

2. Vinyl Siding

A good choice for those looking for a budget, versatile solution, a vinyl siding can copy the look of stone, wood, or slate for far cheaper costs than the original materials.

3. Fiber Cement Siding

Used mainly on a custom home, the fiber cement siding combines the durability of masonry with the elegant looks of shingle, stone or even wood clapboards. Also known as a hardie siding, it offers superior insulation, as well as great resistance to damage.

The main components of a hardie fiber cement siding are quite straightforward – Portland cement, sand, water, and cellulose fibers – and the same applies to layout and installation.

4. Stucco siding

Almost similar in composition with fiber cement, stucco siding comes in a larger variety of patterns and applications. From smooth textures, to grainy ones, the stucco finish is quite a versatile touch to any custom home.

Energy saving-wise stucco siding holds its ground, though the material is prone to chipping and fragmenting, while repairs are not an easy task.

5. Aluminum Siding

For those living near the coast, with lots of moisture and salt sprays in the air, aluminum siding can be an ideal choice. Unlike wood – it doesn’t absorb moisture, and unlike steel – it doesn’t rust.

One drawback to aluminum siding is that the sheets being so light, they tend to dent or scratch easily.

Is your home energy efficient? Great!

Only now you can think of advanced home energy solutions and their installation.

Solar installers can be a great way to turn your house green, with the average ROI period in the U.S being about 8 years. Yet again, that only works if your home is at its top energy efficiency levels.

At SOD Group we already have those solutions at hand, whether you’re looking to put energy into your home, or save energy wasting and lower the overall carbon footprint of your house.