Cooler Homes With Metal Roofs And Whirlybirds

Making your home more energy efficient is a must for all Australians and your homes roof is an obvious place to start.
The recent trend of darker roof colours is coming to an end with the transformative shift towards lighter roofing colors and a focus on energy efficiency.
Research has shown that light-colored roofs are estimated to reflect up to 70% of summer heat gain, which is around 50% more than that reflected by a dark roof​​.
This reflection capability directly contributes to lower indoor temperatures during hot months, reducing the need for air conditioning and, consequently, energy consumption.

The Science Behind the Shades

Albedo is the scientific principal which measures a surface’s ability to reflect sunlight. Lighter colors boast a higher albedo, effectively reflecting a significant portion of solar radiation back into the atmosphere. This phenomenon substantially reduces heat absorption, ensuring that buildings with lighter roofs remain cooler. In stark contrast, darker roofs absorb a larger fraction of solar heat, significantly elevating indoor temperatures. The implications of this dynamic are far-reaching, affecting not only comfort levels but also the energy required for cooling interiors during warmer months.

Metal Roofing Is Cool Roofing

Let’s take a look at the advantages of lighter color roofs, with a special focus on metal roofing, particularly Colorbond, as the roofing material for maintaining cooler homes and optimising energy efficiency.

Metal roofing is a winning choice when it comes to cool roofing solutions. Its reflective properties, coupled with advances in reflective pigments and coatings, boost its ability to repel solar heat. In addition, metal roofing is lightweight, durable and has maintenance requirements.
However, the efficacy of metal roofing in promoting energy efficiency is markedly enhanced when paired with the strategic selection of colors.

Colorbond: Colour and Efficiency

Colorbond is a leading choice for metal roofing, it offers a palette of colours designed to cater to diverse architectural styles and climatic conditions. Among its spectrum, lighter shades stand out for their superior energy efficiency.
These colors are not merely decorative choices but strategic selections engineered to reduce cooling demands. By opting for lighter Colorbond roof colors, homeowners can capitalise on the dual benefits of aesthetic versatility and energy conservation.

• Dover White: A pristine, radiant white, Dover White shines brightly, mirroring the majority of the sun’s rays. This shade stands as a prime candidate for energy conservation, mirroring the qualities of Surfmist by providing a cooling sanctuary within your home.
• Evening Haze: Evening Haze offers a gentle, light grey tone, reminiscent of the tranquil moments just after sunset. Its capability to deflect solar heat while maintaining a sleek, contemporary aesthetic makes it an ideal choice for reducing cooling demands in your residence.
• Paperbark: Paperbark introduces a warm, neutral palette, echoing the natural hues of Australian flora. Its light, inviting color not only enriches the exterior charm but also plays a significant role in minimizing heat absorption, thereby enhancing the comfort levels inside your home.
• Southerly: This color brings to mind the refreshing, cool breezes of the southern shores, with a light, soothing shade that efficiently reflects sunlight. Southerly combines aesthetics with functionality, promising a significant reduction in heat gain and a boost in energy efficiency.
• Surfmist: Celebrated for its soft, almost ethereal white tone, Surfmist boasts exceptional solar reflectance. This color is a quintessential selection for those seeking to maximize energy efficiency, as it reflects a vast majority of solar radiation, keeping interiors serene and temperature-controlled.
• Shale Grey: Capturing the essence of modern sophistication, Shale Grey provides a cooling effect under the sun’s rigorous rays. This light grey hue is perfectly balanced to combine visual appeal with thermal performance, making it a smart choice for eco-friendly roofing.
• Classic Cream: Radiating with a warm, light tone, Classic Cream offers timeless elegance while contributing significantly to a cooler home environment. Its ability to reflect sunlight effectively makes it a stalwart ally in the quest for reduced energy usage.
• Dune: Exhibiting a subtle, neutral elegance, Dune seamlessly merges with diverse landscapes. Its capacity to reflect a considerable amount of sunlight ensures that your interiors remain comfortable and energy-efficient, embodying the true spirit of sustainable living.

By selecting colours optimized for solar reflectance, homeowners can enjoy a reduction in cooling costs, contribute to environmental sustainability, and achieve a harmonious balance between design and functionality.

The Environmental and Economic Synergy

Installing lighter color roofs presents a sensible approach to environmental and economic savings. By minimising heat absorption, lighter coloured roofs reduce the reliance on air conditioning, leading to lower energy consumption and decreased greenhouse gas emissions.
The long-term financial benefits, with reduced energy bills by considering the roof colour and optimal roofing materials cannot be denied.

Enhancing Lighter Roofs and Metal Roofing

POC Plumbing & Roofing are on hot roofs all day and we see what works.
Helping people to lower the heat in their home can easily be done with better ventilation and this goes hand in hand with majority of the Colorbond roofs we install.
Majority of the re roofs we do have additional ventilation added and this is why we love whirlybirds!

Adding a ventilation for a hot roof cavity is easy when you consider a whirlybird or wind turbine.
They are effective in reducing heat within roof cavities, significantly impacting the overall temperature regulation of a home.
Roof cavities can hit temperatures up to 60 degrees. A whirlybird rotates with the breeze, creating a vacuum that extracts warm air from the roof cavity and brings in a continuous flow of cooler air from outside.

It is simple yet profoundly effective way to maintain a cooler roof space, which, in turn, reduces heat transfer to living areas below.​.

The Whirlybird: Passive Ventilation

The effectiveness of a whirlybird is partly dependent on the wind, as it requires airflow to spin and create the vacuum effect that draws hot air out. In terms of capacity, a standard whirlybird can move approximately 100-150 cubic meters of air per hour in conditions with wind speeds of around 12 km/h.
The Sutherland Shire is the perfect location to have whirlybirds installed as we have coastal winds all through out the Shire

This translates into tangible energy savings. By reducing the dependency on electric cooling systems, homeowners can achieve a noticeable decrease in energy consumption. This reduction not only leads to lower utility bills but also contributes to a smaller carbon footprint.

Energy Savings and Environmental Impact

When it is time to install a new roof, making it a lighter colour and adding ventilation with a wind turbine will contribute to an effective cooling strategy for your home.
This holistic approach maximizes the roof’s potential to serve as a barrier against heat, rather than a conduit for it.

Get in Touch with POC Plumbing & Roofing and we can help you make your roof to not only look amazing but to help your home be cooler and more cost effective to run.