Office Smart Roofs

Spend $2,000 now and SAVE $226 each year... ROI = 11.3%

Simply painting a flat roof white can cut some of the sun’s heat. Studies in sunnier climates show substantial savings. Instead of the sun’s heat being absorbed by a dark roof, it is reflected back to the atmosphere. Often summer savings significantly outweigh the added winter heat gain. A lighter roof means reduced intake air temperatures for offices with rooftop cooling systems. Since lighter roofs stay cooler they last longer too. A whole new generation of ‘smart roofs’ are on the market. Look into options ranging from metal to even solar roof tiles.

If you need to replace your roof or add a new one for an office addition, consider lighter colored 'smart' shingles to prevent increased heat transfer into the floor below. You may also consider innovative new metal roofing shingles or the classic American vertical panel 'standing seam' like farm buildings. Metal roofing can save you between 20- 40% in summer energy costs. Metal roofs last about 3 times longer than asphalt shingles (50 yrs vs. 17 yrs), and they resist harsh weather, wind and fire. You may qualify for a discount of up to 35% on your office property insurance. Metal roofs typically have between 25-50% recycled materials, and they are 100% recyclable at the end of their life. A regular roof costs about $4 to $6 a square foot installed with materials accounting for about half of the cost. Asphalt shingle cost about $2.50 / sq. ft. vs. reflective systems at $3.00 / sq. ft.

The ROI Calculation is based on a 2,500 sq. ft. office with 4,000 sq. ft. of pitched roof. Many small office buildings have more than one floor, but the savings do not necessarily translate because the floor directly under the roof is the one that receives the benefit of the smart roof. The calculation is also based on the average employee using $113 of energy for cooling per year, which is 20% of the total annual cost of energy, and an office of ten employees that use $1,130 per year. At a 20% reduction in cooling energy with a smart roof, the savings are $226 per summer season. If you use an ENERGY STAR® qualified metal roof, you can also typically get Tax Credits.

Payback Time in Years: Added Cost: Annual SAVINGS 5 Year SAVINGS Return on Investment (ROI):
8.8 $2,000 $226 $1,130 11.3%

 

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