Today, we cover the tremendous benefits offered by energy-efficient buildings. To examine the benefits of these buildings in a fuller light, it would be best to first review what energy efficiency is exactly.
What is Energy Efficiency?
According to the Lawrence Berkley National Laboratory, an operational definition of energy efficiency, or “energy-efficient use”, is the use of less energy for providing or obtaining the same service or good. The U.S. Department of Energy states that energy efficiency is an effective way of “saving money… and reducing pollution.”
Over its twenty years of existence, the ENERGY STAR® program has become perhaps the most recognized program for certification of products’ energy-saving capabilities. According to the program’s website, ENERGY STAR® is “U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) voluntary program that helps businesses and individuals save money and protect our climate through superior energy efficiency”. Since the program’s introduction in 1992, the public’s awareness of the program and its efforts to promote greater energy savings has grown significantly. At present, approximately 85 percent of the American population recognizes the blue ENERGY STAR® brand logo.
One area in which the ENERGY STAR® program has exerted influence is in the construction industry. Many building materials have the ENERGY STAR® logo as confirmation of their energy-saving power. In the specific area of energy-efficient construction, building owners who want their buildings to be energy-efficient, if not more so, have opted for the application of energy-efficient building materials on their building properties. These energy-efficient materials have undergone strict third party testing and confirmation of their energy-saving capabilities.
Currently, over 1.4 million home and 20,000 facilities carry the ENERGY STAR® logo.
Annual Energy Consumption in the United States
According to the ENERGY STAR® program, Americans spend almost $40 billion in annual cooling costs on their buildings. That accounts for approximately one-sixth of the electricity generated in the United States. Because cooling expenses have been so high, with the introduction of the ENERGY STAR® program in 1992 came strengthened consumer interest in energy-efficient building materials. Since then, building owners across the United States have turned to energy-efficient building systems as a way for cost containment.
The ENERGY STAR® program has shown strong dividends in producing greater energy savings and utility cost savings, even on a year-to-year basis. In 2013, with ENERGY STAR®’s assistance “American families and businesses… saved $297 billion on utility bills and prevented more than 2.1 billion metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions”, according to a press release recently issued by the program.
Energy-Efficient Roofing for Energy Costs Reduction
In the energy-efficient construction industry, one method that has emerged for making a building more efficient in its energy use is energy-efficient roofing. Like other energy-efficient products, many roof systems have been certified with the ENERGY STAR® logo as third-party confirmation of their energy-saving properties.
ENERGY STAR®-certified roofing has been found to give tremendous benefits:
- Capable of reflecting more of the sun’s rays and harmful UV rays than “typical” roofing, especially black asphalt roofs. Some commercial roof systems, such as Conklin roof systems, have been found to be capable of reflecting up to 85% of the sun’s heat and UV rays.
- Capable of lowering roof surface temperatures by up to 100°.
- Reducing at-maximum cooling demand by 10-15%.
With these energy benefits, building owners could see up to 30% cost savings on their annual cooling costs. Conklin’s line of ENERGY STAR®-certified roof systems have been found to do so and also extend an existing roof’s life for up to 40+ years, or even more.
What Else Do Conklin Roof Systems Provide?
Aside from tremendous energy benefits, Conklin roofing provides an impenetrable, seamless layer of protection over any existing commercial roof. These roof products can be applied to virtually any commercial roof type without a hassle. They also feature certified resistance against hurricane-grade winds, fire breakouts, and hailstorms. A building’s structural support is reinforced by Conklin roofing products, but without any deadweight added. Plus, Conklin’s products are elastomeric, meaning that they contract and expand with temperature changes.
When they are applied over an existing roof, Conklin roof restoration products feature a highly reflective surface that gives the roofing its energy-saving capabilities. That is what makes a building energy-efficient for the long run. In fact, the energy savings that Conklin products give can be so tremendous, they pay for themselves in recouped energy cost savings in just five to seven years.
Conklin roof products are also the only roofing materials backed by non-prorated warranties that cover labor and material costs for up to 20 years. Contractors warranty the labor, and as the manufacturer Conklin warranties the materials used.
Should you be interested in learning how to make your building energy efficient with Conklin roofing products, call us today at 800-670-5583. We will be happy to give you a free roof estimate as well.
(More information about the ENERGY STAR® program and the benefits of qualified roofing products can be found at the links listed below.)
Sources:
https://www.energystar.gov/certified-products/detail/roof_products
https://www.energystar.gov/about/
