You hope to get more than seven years out of your asphalt roof, so let’s use the higher number of 10 years for replacement and see your true costs.

Now the Metal Roof Math

The average, metal roofing costs tend to be about three times the cost of conventional asphalt roofs. The difference in cost is attributed to a much higher cost of metal roofing materials, permanent venting systems, lifetime underlayments, and sealants along with a highly technically involved installation process that requires specialized skills, and specific training for the metal roofing system being installed. Metal roofs are tedious and time-consuming to install. The average, metal roofs takes about three to four times longer to install than a conventional roof.

With that said, if we run the numbers on metal roofing, we still get a different story.

What the above tables do not reflect is the truth that metal roofs will also provide measurable energy savings where asphalt provides none. Many homeowners report 20% cooling costs savings with aluminum roofs and see a 10% reduction in heating costs. By drying the insulation in the attic through proper ventilation, heating bills are slashed. Although a metal roof does cost more initially, it will pay for itself by increasing the value of a building, providing notable energy savings, and does not need to be replaced in 7 -10 years.  Metal roofs actually last 40 years, and beyond!

Now you can be proud to have the best looking home on the block and have slashed your energy bills while eliminating worries forever!

We install metal roofing professionally according to NRCA standards and specifications.

learn more here

Metal roofing jackson mississippi

Dark materials absorb more heat from the sun–as anyone who has worn a black t-shirt on a sunny day knows. Black surfaces in the sun can become up to 70°F (40°C) hotter than the most reflective white surfaces. If those dark surfaces are roofs, some of the heat collected by the roof is transferred inside. Link to: Roof Heat Transfer

Staying comfortable in under a dark shingle roof often means more air conditioning and higher utility bills. These roofs also heat the air around them, contributing to the heat island effect. Conversely, cool roofs can reduce the heat island effect and save energy. In a study funded by the U.S. EPA, the Heat Island Group carried out a detailed analysis of energy-saving potentials of light-colored roofs in 11 U.S. metropolitan areas. About ten residential and commercial building prototypes in each area were simulated. We considered both the savings in cooling and penalties in heating. We estimated saving potentials of about $175 million per year for the 11 cities. Extrapolated national energy savings were about $750 million per year. Link to: Energy > Ways to Save Energy

The Heat Island Group has monitored buildings in Sacramento with lightly colored, more reflective roofs. We found that these buildings used up to 40% less energy for cooling than buildings with darker roofs. The Florida Solar Energy Center performed a similar study, also showing up to 40% cooling energy savings.

The Heat Island Group continues to monitor buildings and measure or simulate the effects of increased roof reflectivities for:
# different types of buildings,
# different climate zones and seasons, and
# different roof insulation levels, angles and orientations.
This important research is needed to find the best ways to save energy and money using reflective roofing.

Metal Roofing Jackson Miss

Also, materials specialist Paul Berdahl is developing a new rating system called the solar reflectance index (SRI) to measure how hot materials are in the sun. The extremes of white and black paint (on the graph above) define the solar reflectance index (SRI). Berdahl compiles and measures the solar reflectance and infrared emittance of roofing materials. Reliable summary data and information on heat transfer are posted on our web-based database. Go to: Cool Roofing Material Database We also collaborate with manufacturers to find ways to make roofing materials cooler. Link to: Collaboration with Industry Sample data for some examples of cool roofing materials are available. Link to: Cool Roofing Samples

Manufacturers have recently developed clean, “self-washing” white shingles with even higher SRIs–up to 62%. This is useful because the labor costs of maintaining the high albedo of a roof coating may exceed the cost of conserved energy. Link to: Wash Your Roof

Look for the SRI to start appearing on roofing products! Reroofing with shingles rated SRI 50% or higher will keep a home cooler and reduce energy bills. Reroofing offers a quicker and even less expensive method to cool your home than planting trees, as well as making our buildings and cities cooler and more comfortable.

For an overview of our research on cool roofing materials, link to: “Measurements and Database for Cool Roofing Materials”

To learn more about the instruments we use to characterize roofing samples, link to: Cool Roofs Instrumentation

Back to: Heat Island Group Home Page
This web page last modified by Brian Pon on April 27, 2000.
Questions? E-mail: SCChang@LBL.gov

#2 Shingle
A #2 shingle is cut the same lenghts and thickness as a #1 shingle. The face must be 10″ clear on the 16″ Fivex; 11″ clear on the 18″ Perfections; and 16″ clear on the 24″ Royals. Flatgrain and limited sapwood are allowed. Flatgrain can easily be detected by the grain designs on the face of the shingle. Limited knots and defects are allowed above the clear portion.
On a 4/12 or steeper pitched roof, #2 shingles are applied at 4″ for 16″; 4 1/2″ for 18″; and 6 1/2″ for 24″.
Most often it is used for reroofing, walls, and as a starter course.

#3 Shingle
A #3 grade shingle is cut in the same lengths and thickness as the #1 and #2 shingle. The face must be 6″ clear on the 16″; 6″ clear on the 18″; and 10″ clear on the 24″. Sapwood and flatgrain are allowed. Limited knots and defects are allowed above the clear portion.
On a 4/12 pitched or steeper roof, #3 shingles are applied at 3 1/2″ exposure for 16″; 4″ for 18″; and 5 1/2″ for 24″.
Used for the undercourse in a two course application, garden sheds, gazebos, walls for outbuildings, etc.
Heavy Split & Resawn Shake
A Split and Resawn Shake is sawn on the backside and the face is split with the natural grain of the wood giving the shake a highly textured surface on the exposed face. Also known as a Heavy Resaw, it is thicker and heavier than any other shake, giving the roof a very rugged or rustic appearance.
It is cut from clear heartwood, with no defects.
The shake is 3/4″ thick at the butt and is cut in two lengths – 18″ and 24″. On a 4/12 or steeper pitched roof, it is applied at 7 1/2″ for a 18″ shake and 10″ for a 24″ shake.

Medium Split & Resawn Shake
Cut in the same manner, the Medium Split and Resawn Shake is just not cut as thick or as heavy as the Heavy Split and Resawn Shake. Also known as a Medium Resawn, it gives the roof a very textured appearance.
The Medium Split & Resawn Shake is cut from clear heartwood, with no defects.
This shake is 1/2″ thick at the butt and is cut in two lengths – 18″ and 24″. On a 4/12 or steeper pitched roof, it is applied at 7 1/2″ for a 18″ shake and 10″ for a 24″ shake.

#1 Tapersawn Shake
Both faces are sawn; like that of a shingle, but the cut is thicker. This shake has a naturally tailored look of a shingle but is complimented by the sharp shadow line of a shake caused by the thicker butt. The Tapersawn Shake is the most popular wood roof in the West Coast of British Columbias and is rapidly growing in popularity in the rest of Canada and the USA.
Is is cut from clear heartwood, with no defects.
This shake is 5/8″ or 3/4″ thick at the butt and is cut in two lengths – 18″ and 24″. On a 4/12 or steeper pitched roof, it is applied at 7 1/2″ for a 18″ shake and 10″ for a 24″ shake.

© 2004 CedarShakeandShingle.com All Rights Reserved.
Site by Escaped Studios

On Tuesday, May 26, 2009, at a Middle Class Task Force meeting, Vice President Biden charged the White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) with developing a proposal for Federal action that will grow green job opportunities and boost energy savings by retrofitting homes for energy efficiency. In response to this charge, CEQ has facilitated an interagency process with the Office of the Vice President to develop this Report—involving eleven Departments and Agencies and six White House Offices.

This Report contains a set of recommendations for specific Federal actions, which address the market and non-market barriers that have prevented the home retrofit market from achieving national-scale. The following Departments and Agencies contributed to this Report and participated in drafting the recommendations: Office of the Vice President Department of Agriculture Department of Commerce Department of Education Department of Energy Department of Housing and Urban Development Department of Labor Department of Treasury Environmental Protection Agency Equal Employment Opportunity Commission General Services Administration Small Business Administration Executive Office of the President Council of Economic Advisers Domestic Policy Council National Economic Council Office of Management and Budget Office of Public Engagement and Intergovernmental Affairs Office of Science and Technology Policy

A Strategic Plan for Recovery Through Retrofit

Market Barrier 1: Consumers need reliable home retrofitting information to make informed decisions

Consistent, accessible, and trusted information is a critical element to building a robust, energy efficient home retrofit market in the United States. This information must provide consumers with a reliable benchmark for energy efficiency and sound estimates of the costs and benefits of home energy retrofits. Currently, there are a variety of energy performance rating tools in the home retrofit market, each one supplying different information and performance predictions. The lack of a standard rating causes great confusion for consumers. Without some level of standardization combined with an effort to increase recognition and awareness, energy efficiency retrofits will likely remain a niche product, keeping consumer demand low and investors out of the market.

Solution 1: We must provide straightforward and credible information to American homeowners on the costs and benefits of home energy retrofits.

The Federal Government already promotes an energy efficiency measure that helps consumers save money by identifying appliances and other household products that use less energy. The ENERGY STAR® program is a proven solution that has helped to revolutionize the market for cost-effective, energy efficient products. With the help of ENERGY STAR® Americans saved $19 billion on their utility bills last year. We propose to do for homes what ENERGY STAR® has done for appliances so homeowners know that retrofits will bring their home to a recognized and trusted standard of energy efficiency and home buyers, lenders, and realtors have an easy way to understand the energy performance of homes. To get there, we must take two steps:

Develop Energy Performance Label for Homes
When consumers see the ENERGY STAR® label on a dishwasher or a refrigerator, they know they are getting an energy efficient product and they can take the savings into account as they decide what to purchase. New homes can qualify for an ENERGY STAR® label but there is no similar label for existing homes that have undergone retrofits. The Federal Government will develop a home performance label for existing homes. The label will be based on the national home energy performance measure described below, and it will be developed in partnership with industry leaders, realtors, and efficiency advocates to promote widespread adoption.

The end result will be an easily recognizable benchmark that auditors, retrofitters, lenders, realtors, and consumers can use to compare home energy performance and identify the most efficient homes.
The new home performance label should be accompanied by a national marketing campaign to increase consumer awareness and expand the demand for home energy retrofits. This campaign should build on the marketing that Federal Government already does in conjunction with the ENERGY STAR® label on products and the Home Performance with ENERGY STAR® program for whole-home retrofits. The national marketing campaign will help homeowners find reliable sources of information on how to improve their homes and quality, skilled contractors to do the work.

Develop a Standardized Home Energy Performance Measure
We cannot develop an energy performance label for existing homes without first developing a standardized home energy performance measure that is applicable to every home in America. The measure will make it much easier for consumers to understand how much they can save by investing in retrofitting. A uniform and nationally-recognized measure could be incorporated in home appraisals at the point of sale and utilized in energy retrofit transactions, which would spur new interest in the retrofit industry from large-scale suppliers and institutional lenders.

The Department of Energy (DOE) is currently working with the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and other Agencies to design a standard energy performance measure and related tools to meet this need. The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) will work to link the new energy performance measure to its redesigned Energy Efficient Mortgage products. DOE will promote adoption of a national energy performance measure through its advisory role to States and will encourage the use of a common national standard.

Market Barrier 2: The costs of home retrofit projects are beyond the average homeowner’s budget

High upfront costs and a lack of credit and financing options dissuade many homeowners from completing or even considering energy efficiency home retrofits. Many homeowners are understandably concerned with how to fund these key improvements. The Recovery Act began to address these issues by extending and expanding a 30% tax credit for investment in residential energy efficiency property, up to a cap of $1,500 per primary residence over 2 years. Other existing financing tools, while successful in some local markets, have not succeeded in making significant inroads in the market at large.

Because home buyers lack information about the payoffs associated with increasing a home’s energy efficiency and because the industry does not properly incentivize retrofits that pay-off over long periods of time, homeowners often do not recoup the actual value of their energy efficiency investments when they sell. The solution is to make financing more transparent, more accessible, repayable over a longer time period, and overall, more consumer-friendly.

Solution 2: We must make it easy for homeowners to identify and access home energy retrofit financing tools and products
Today, the Recovery Act is already making it easier for homeowners to access home energy retrofit financing. A number of states are currently leveraging the Department of Energy’s Recovery Act funds to support long lasting job creation and the deployment of renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies.
For example, the State Energy Program (SEP) offers states the opportunity to encourage renewable energy and energy efficiency projects through their state’s financing mechanisms, such as revolving loan funds. Kansas plans on spending over $34 million to establish a low-interest revolving loan fund to finance cost-effective energy efficiency improvements in homes and small commercial and industrial buildings.
In addition, Nebraska plans on spending $11 million to create a revolving loan fund to provide low-interest financing to deploy energy efficient building technologies to the residential, public, commercial and industrial building sectors.

Lastly, Florida plans on spending $10 million to create a low-interest solar loan program that will provide capital to deploy commercially available solar water heaters to Florida residents. These are just a few examples of how Recovery Act funding is currently creating green jobs and reducing greenhouse gas emissions, at the state level.

Support Municipal Energy Financing
The high turnover rate of housing in the United States has proven to be a significant problem when it comes to financing home retrofits. The debt accrued by a retrofit is tied to the individual making the investment, rather than the home itself, even though the savings are passed on to the next owner of the home. This means that retrofits frequently don’t pay for themselves before the homeowner who took the initiative moves. As a result, people are less inclined to invest in home retrofitting. In recent years, a number of innovative financing mechanisms have been implemented by municipalities that permit property owners to request financing for energy retrofits or renewable energy systems secured by a special tax assessment on the property. These mechanisms tie the retrofitting loan to the property instead of the individual, permitting the energy retrofit assessment to be paid off in annual installments as part of the property’s usual property tax bill.

The Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) financing programs enable the costs for energy efficiency retrofits to be added to an owner’s property tax bill as part of a municipal property tax assessment, which takes the same priority as traditional property tax liens and assessments.

PACE programs are designed to overcome several barriers that may otherwise impede property owners from making energy investments. These barriers include: (1) limited access to capital; (2) high transaction costs; (3) lack of information on the part of home buyers that leads them to undervalue efficiency investments; and (4) potential downstream home sale, all of which may dissuade property owners from taking on debt that might not be fully recovered by energy savings before the property is sold.
PACE programs address these barriers by providing access to capital that might be otherwise limited to homeowners. PACE provides beneficial financial terms, streamlines the application process with lower application and transaction fees relative to other lending options, and establishes a financing mechanism in which that debt obligation is tied to the property and the owners receiving the energy savings benefits.
Along with the exciting potential of PACE programs for energy retrofits, homeowners and mortgage lenders can encounter certain risks if the programs are not implemented correctly. Building on the expertise of the Federal Government, the Department of Energy, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, and the Department of the Treasury will announce new principles for PACE program design. Moving forward, Federal Agencies will work in partnership with state and local governments to establish standardized underwriting criteria and safeguards to protect consumers and minimize financial risks to homeowners and mortgage lenders.
A Federal role to encourage PACE pilot programs will also facilitate the collection of data, objectively measure and evaluate the performance of PACE programs, and speed the adoption of more detailed, uniform ―Best Practices‖ that include robust and effective homeowner and lender protections. Further research can then assess the efficacy of PACE programs, including the cost-effectiveness of energy retrofits, reductions in greenhouse gases, and economic impacts on community spending and green job creation.

DOE will be funding model PACE projects, which will incorporate the new principles for PACE program design. Under the State Energy Program, DOE has received approximately $80 million of applications for PACE-type programs to provide upfront capital, out of nearly $3.1 billion in total funding available. Smaller PACE-like programs may also be funded through the Energy Efficiency Conservation Block Grant Programs. Funding at these levels will encourage pilots of PACE programs, with more developed homeowner and lender protections than have been provided to date.

Improve Energy Efficient Mortgages
Energy Efficient Mortgages (EEMs) enable home buyers and homeowners refinancing their properties to add energy efficiency upgrades and improvements to their properties as part of the underlying mortgage financing transaction. This permits the energy retrofits to be financed over a longer period of time, with lower monthly payments. Energy improvements are typically identified as part of a Home Energy Rating or energy audit and must be cost effective, generating energy savings that are equal to or greater than the costs of the improvements over the useful life of the improvement.
Historically, there have been significant barriers to widespread utilization of Energy Efficient Mortgages. A four-part solution is proposed to expand and increase the effectiveness of Energy Efficient Mortgages:
1. To lower transaction costs, EPA and DOE will advance a standard home energy performance measure that can be used to easily rate the energy performance of a home;
2. Federal Agencies will work with the home energy rating and home performance industries, as well as states, municipalities and utilities to streamline the energy audit and the home energy ratings process, and expand consumer education and lender awareness of the product;
3. To the extent feasible, HUD will work with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to establish uniform procedures for Energy Efficient Mortgage products; and
4. Federal Agencies will work with the home appraisal industry to develop procedures for appraisals to more accurately reflect energy efficiency.
These enhancements are aimed at boosting the volume of Energy Efficient Mortgages. States, cities, or counties can also use their Recovery Act funds to provide credit enhancements and implement other initiatives to boost EEMs.
Expand State Revolving Loan Funds
A Revolving Loan Fund is a funding mechanism that enables loans to be provided to pay for an energy retrofit project’s upfront capital costs. Once the energy retrofit is completed, the principal and interest on the loan, along with any financed transaction costs, are paid from the energy savings generated from the project. As energy retrofit loans are paid off, the funds are constantly ―revolving‖ – being used, earned back, and reinvested, thus sustaining the fund over time.

Revolving Loan Funds for energy efficiency retrofits in homes already exist in 16 states. However, they are presently too diverse for private sector suppliers, installers, retail lenders and secondary loan markets to realize economies of scale, which would lower transaction costs. Conforming efficiency loans will be required to bring down capital costs and create sustainable secondary loan funding. Such conforming measures should require: (1) similar loan lengths up to 15 years, so monthly payments are greatly reduced; (2) standard approved products linked to ENERGY STAR®; (3) common procedures with product tiers installed in logical order, linked via Home Performance with ENERGY STAR®; and (4) standardized home energy performance measures and data protocols, so that both loan performance and retrofit performance can be measured accurately over time.

The Federal Government will also work to encourage the development of revolving loan funds in all 50 states. State revolving loan funds produce consistent and affordable loan products, allowing consumers to borrow money for home energy retrofits at lower interest rates. These efforts will create reliable, easy to close, unsecured loan products in every jurisdiction and mobilize private sector funds and achieve economies of scale in installation costs, transaction costs, and persuasive marketing efforts. In order to encourage development of state revolving loan funds in all 50 states, the Department of Energy will also provide technical assistance to states without revolving loan programs in order to encourage their adoption. Finally, existing funding through the Recovery Act can be used to expand current and create new revolving loan fund programs throughout the country.

Market Barrier 3: Increase the number of skilled workers and green entrepreneurs to successfully expand efficiency retrofit programs on a national-scale
To achieve the desired scale of efficient and healthy home retrofits, a sizable increase in the number of well-trained green retrofit workers is needed. Many states and localities are looking for guidance and information on how to both streamline and rapidly expand quality training opportunities for those looking to enter the home energy retrofit industry.

Furthermore, there is no clear guideline or standard to assure consumers of the quality of the work being done on their home. A consistent set of standards will increase consumer confidence in energy retrofit workers, promote good green job opportunities and training opportunities for people of all skill levels, and facilitate the mobilization of a national home retrofit workforce.
In addition, a lack of business skills training has been a barrier to the widespread success of efficiency retrofits programs. Business skills training and business development must therefore be a key component of any large-scale efficiency retrofit workforce capacity development initiative to ensure that a commercially viable effort can be maintained by small- and medium-sized businesses in the open market over the long-term.

Developing a workforce equipped with both technical and business skills will improve the rate of success for small efficiency retrofit businesses and increase the ability to respond to rising retrofit demand. This will enable sustained economic and green job growth while achieving further energy savings and healthy homes.

Solution 3: Mobilize a skilled national energy retrofit workforce and expand good, green job opportunities for all American workers
Develop Consistent Workforce Certifications and Training Standards
To rapidly expand retrofit capacity, a national effort is needed to conclusively identify required job skills upon which certification standards will be based, and develop standard training goals or methods. The availability of model training programs based around best practices will lower the barriers to entry for programs needed to train workers, allowing an expanded offering of quality training opportunities. The widespread adoption of model training approaches will also facilitate the development of a well-trained workforce across the country, which will improve energy and environmental outcomes, enable worker mobility, and enhance career opportunities.

In addition, as outlined in the Surgeon General’s Call to Action To Promote Healthy Homes,[1] healthy and environmentally friendly housing education should be incorporated in weatherization training programs. Proper certification and training standards will ensure that retrofitted homes are healthy homes.

To facilitate consistent, high-quality training of a green retrofit workforce, the Federal Government will:
1. Advance a nationally recognized worker certification standard for comprehensive training that provides evidence that a worker is well qualified to properly complete efficiency and healthy home retrofits.
2. Promote a nationally recognized training accreditation standard to enable students to identify trainers with a demonstrated capacity to provide quality instruction.
3. Develop and deploy model training programs for workers, including pre-apprenticeship and other programs that serve as ramps for lower skilled workers, provide clear pathways to career track jobs, and assist training providers in ramping up training capacity efficiently and effectively.
4. Leverage existing workplace training, labor management partnerships, and other public-private partnerships and the local presence of Federal Agencies in communities to link workforce training to job opportunities.
5. Provide business development support and business skills training to improve the rate of success for small efficiency retrofit businesses and to engage both small businesses and larger contractors in entering the retrofit market to build an industry at scale. This support should also include a focus on making sure small businesses and minority and/or women owned businesses have a seat at the table.

To ensure that efficiency retrofit training programs translate into thriving efficiency retrofit businesses, the Federal Government will use its resources to make business skills a critical component of efficiency retrofit training. By combining industry-specific business skills training with industry-specific jobs skills training, the Federal Government can help provide a steady stream of skilled retrofit workers, and a steady stream of healthy small and medium-sized retrofit businesses ready to hire these workers.
[1] For the full report, see: http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/topics/healthyhomes/index.html

Federal Departments and Agencies, including: the Department of Labor, the Department of Energy, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, and the Environmental Protection Agency will work in collaboration to assess existing standards and training programs and develop consistent models, guides, and best practices for training and certification.
The Department of Education, the Department of Commerce, and the Small Business Administration will assist in implementing the best practices developed by the other Departments and Agencies.

Implementation
CEQ will convene an interagency Energy Retrofit Working Group chaired by the Department of Energy, Department of Housing and Urban Development, Department of Agriculture, the Department of Labor, and the Environmental Protection Agency, to implement the recommendations and proposed actions of this Recovery Through Retrofit effort and track its progress.

The Working Group will operate as the single point of contact for the successful implementation of this effort. Within thirty days, the Working Group will submit an implementation plan to the Vice President. In addition, the Working Group will report to the Vice President regularly on the progress towards implementing each of the recommendations identified in this Report. Additional strategies will also be developed to expand the retrofit market to rental housing.
Further, Federal Agencies will collaborate with local communities to test business models and develop best practices for encouraging energy efficiency programs that address the three key market failures identified in this Report.

Executive Summary
Making American homes and buildings more energy efficient presents an unprecedented opportunity for communities throughout the country. The Recovery Through Retrofit Report builds on investments made in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act) to expand the home energy efficiency and retrofit market. Home retrofits can potentially help people earn money, as home retrofit workers, while also helping them save money, by lowering their utility bills. By encouraging nationwide weatherization of homes, workers of all skill levels will be trained, engaged, and will participate in ramping up a national home retrofit market.
There are almost 130 million homes in this country. Combined, they generate more than 20 percent of our nation’s carbon dioxide emissions, making them a significant contributor to global climate change. Existing techniques and technologies in energy efficiency retrofitting can reduce home energy use by up to 40 percent per home and lower associated greenhouse gas emissions by up to 160 million metric tons annually by the year 2020. Furthermore, home energy efficiency retrofits have the potential to reduce home energy bills by $21 billion annually, paying for themselves over time.
By implementing Recovery Through Retrofit’s recommendations, the Federal Government will lay the groundwork for a self-sustaining home energy efficiency retrofit industry. This Report provides a roadmap of how the Federal Government can use existing authorities and funds to unlock private capital and mobilize our communities.

Barriers to a National Retrofit Market

Despite the economic and environmental benefits of improving home energy efficiency, a series of barriers have prevented a self-sustaining retrofit market from forming, including:
1. Access to Information: Consumers do not have access to straightforward and reliable information on home energy retrofits that they need to make informed decisions.
2. Access to Financing: Homeowners face high upfront costs and many are concerned that they will be prevented from recouping the value of their investment if they choose to sell their home. The upfront costs of home retrofit projects are often beyond the average homeowner’s budget.
3. Access to Skilled Workers: There are currently not enough skilled workers and green entrepreneurs to expand weatherization and efficiency retrofit programs on a national scale.

Recommendations Summary
The Recovery Act provides a unique opportunity to address these barriers. The Recovery Act allocates about $80 billion to projects related to energy and the environment, and much of this money is targeted toward improving the energy efficiency in buildings, both Federal and non-Federal. Under the Recovery Act, state and local governments have an unprecedented opportunity to expand investments in energy retrofits and develop community-based programs on a large scale.

These investments will put our country on a path to real reductions in greenhouse gases, and contribute to the economic recovery our country needs. The recommendations and actions in this Report have been carefully designed by eleven Departments and Agencies and six White House Offices to ensure that the energy efficiency market will thrive long after the Recovery Act money is fully spent.
By coordinating Recovery Act funds, Federal Departments and Agencies and resources; through building strong partnerships with states and local communities; and by targeting government policy changes, a foundation for self-sustaining energy efficiency retrofit market will be built. Through implementation of the Recovery Through Retrofit recommendations, the Federal Government will leverage private capital, streamline the retrofitting process, and reduce energy costs for homeowners.

Provide American Homeowners with Straightforward and Reliable Home Energy Retrofit Information

Develop Energy Performance Label for Homes
We propose to do for homes what ENERGY STAR® has done for appliances, helping consumers identify energy efficient products. New homes can already earn the ENERGY STAR® label – but no such label is available for existing homes. The Department of Energy and the Environmental Protection Agency are working together to develop an energy performance label for these homes. The end result will be an easily recognizable benchmark that energy auditors, retrofitters, lenders, realtors, and consumers can use to compare home energy performance and identify the most energy efficient homes.

Develop a National Home Energy Performance Measure
Before we can develop an energy performance label for existing homes, we must establish a standardized home energy performance measure applicable to every home in America. This measure will make it much easier for consumers to understand how much they can save by retrofitting their home. It will also give lenders the information they need to work with homeowners who are looking to invest in home energy improvements.

Reduce High Upfront Costs and Make it Easy for Homeowners to Borrow Money for Home Energy Retrofits

Support Municipal Energy Financing
Property tax or municipal energy financing allows the costs of retrofits to be added to a homeowner’s property tax bill, with monthly payments generally lower than utility bill savings. This arrangement attaches the costs of the energy retrofit to the property, not the individual, eliminating uncertainty about
recovering the cost of the improvements if the property is sold.

Federal Departments and Agencies will work in partnership with state and local governments to establish standardized underwriting criteria and safeguards to protect consumers and minimize financial risks to the homeowners and mortgage lenders. The Department of Energy will support model financing programs to provide much needed upfront capital utilizing Recovery Act funding provided for the Department’s Energy Efficiency Conservation Block Grant and State Energy Programs.

Improve Energy Efficient Mortgages
Expanding the use of Energy Efficient Mortgages will simplify the process of obtaining and financing energy retrofits at a home’s point of sale.
This effort will also work to lower the cost of home energy audits as well as the monthly financing payments, and ensure that retrofits are accurately valued in the appraisal process. Federal Departments and Agencies will work collaboratively to: advance a standard home energy performance measure and more uniform underwriting procedures; develop procedures for more accurate home energy appraisals; and streamline the energy audit process.

Expand State Revolving Loan Funds
Expanding state revolving loan funds from 16 states to all 50 states will leverage private capital and achieve economies of scale necessary to produce consistent and affordable loan products. This will allow consumers to borrow money for home energy retrofits from private firms at lower interest rates. In addition to funding new programs through the Recovery Act, the Federal Government will work to provide examples of successful revolving loan programs and technical assistance to states without revolving loan programs in order to encourage their adoption.

Mobilize a Well-Trained National Energy Retrofit Workforce and Expand Good, Green Job Opportunities for All American Workers and establish National Workforce Certifications and Training Standards

A uniform set of national standards to qualify energy efficiency and retrofit workers and industry training providers will establish the foundation of consumer confidence that work will be completed correctly and produce the expected energy savings and benefits. Consistent high-level national standards will spur the utilization of qualified training providers that offer career-track programs for people of all skill levels, promote and expand green jobs opportunities, and facilitate the mobilization of a national home retrofit workforce. Federal Departments and Agencies (including the Department of Labor, the Department of Energy, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, and the Environmental Protection Agency) will work in collaboration to assess existing standards and training programs and develop consistent models, guides, and best practices for training and certification. The Department of Education, the Department of Commerce, and the Small Business Administration will assist in implementing the best practices developed by the other Departments and Agencies.

These recommendations do not involve spending large new sums of Federal dollars in our fiscally-constrained environment. Rather, they focus on removing information barriers, transaction costs,
liquidity constraints, and other market failures that often prevent homeowners from making investments that have both private and social benefits.

Moving Forward
To ensure that the recommendations in this Report are implemented, CEQ will convene an interagency Energy Retrofit Working Group, which will be chaired by the Department of Energy, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Labor, and the Environmental Protection Agency.
In addition to implementing the recommendations and proposed actions of this Recovery Through Retrofit effort, the Working Group will track its progress and operate as the single point of contact for the successful implementation of this effort. Within thirty days, the Working Group will submit an implementation plan to the Vice President. Additional strategies will also be developed to expand the retrofit market to rental housing. Moreover, the Working Group will report to the Vice President regularly on its progress towards implementing each of the recommendations identified in this Report.
Recovery

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1. Why should I choose standing seam metal roofing?

A. The standing seam metal roof is one of the most exciting breakthroughs in roofing technology in the last 25 years. It fulfills the building owner’s need for durable, puncture-resistant protection against the weather while working in concert with the forces of nature.

Metal roofing has an established track record in new construction, where it has been used in some 50 percent of all low-rise commercial and industrial buildings erected in the last several years. This acceptance has carried over to the re-roofing market, where standing seam metal roofs have been used successfully as a replacement for built-up and single ply systems. Leading applications for standing seam metal roofs in the retrofit market are schools, factories, warehouses, distribution centers and military facilities.

metal roofing1

2. What are the benefits of metal roofing?

A. Standing seam metal roofs have many benefits. A few examples follow. Metal roofs are:

Durable. The standing seam roof handles thermal shock through its concealed, sliding clip system. The clip assembly uses a rigid base attached to the building’s structural members. An upper part clips the roof panel and forms into a seam during the seaming operation. The clip allows equal amounts of movement in either direction.

Lightweight. Metal roof panels weigh a relatively modest 1-1/2 pounds per square foot.

Easy to Install. Metal roofs can be installed year-round. Heavy rain, extremely cold weather or high winds are about the only conditions that prevent metal roof installers from working. In most projects, the metal roof can be installed right over the existing roof, eliminating costly and time-consuming tear-offs. Owners do not need to close the building area being re-roofed if the work must be done while occupants are inside. Occupants can continue their normal activities, even in the immediate area being re-roofed.

Easy to Maintain. Unlike flat built-up roofs that require frequent maintenance, standing seam metal roofs offer 20 years and beyond of trouble-free performance with little or no maintenance time or expense.

Weathertight. The standing seam metal roof is designed to withstand rain, wind and snow, and still remain weathertight. Panels are joined together by a weathertight seam that is raised above the roof’s drainage plane. Factory-applied organic sealants are applied to the seam during roll forming of the panel. Once on site, automatic field seaming machines complete the seal.

Metal panels are attached to the roof substructure with concealed clips. These are roll formed or crimped into the panel seams without penetrating the corrosion-resistant steel weathering membrane. The clip system performs two functions: It retains the panels in position without exposed fasteners, and allows the roof to expand and contract during temperature changes.

Standing seam metal roofs are designed to perform in high-wind conditions and can qualify for a UL 580 wind uplift rating, as well as the ASTM E-1592 wind uplift test. Metal roofs also can carry a Factory Mutual Class A fire rating—the highest in the industry—which can substantially reduce insurance rates.

Reliable. Standing seam metal roofs assure adequate drainage from rain and snow, effectively solving ponded water problems, leaks and other related troubles commonly associated with flat built-up roofs. In retrofit projects, a sub-framing system is attached to the existing roof surface to provide a minimum 1/4:12 pitch for the new metal roof.

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The panel fastening system is uniquely designed to handle potentially damaging effects from thermal movement. Precisely formed, factory-made metal panels are locked in place by clips inside a raised seam standing two to three inches above the roof surface. The clips have a moveable feature that allows panels to expand and contract with temperature changes. The concealed clip system reduces the chances of leaks and makes the standing seam roof attractive.

3. Are metal roofs energy-efficient?

A. Yes. Fiberglass blankets are the most common insulation material in standing seam metal re-roofing projects. On some projects, unfaced fiberglass insulation is simply laid directly on the existing roof surface before insulation blankets of the new standing seam roof. For other projects, insulation blankets are installed directly under the metal panels and stretched over supporting members. Foam insulation blocks are often used to separate the panels from the purlins to prevent thermal short-circuiting and condensation from forming. The roof expands and contracts independent of the insulation, giving the roof surface a floating action.

4. Are standing seam metal roofs cost-effective?

A. Standing steam metal roofs pay for themselves from the day that they are installed. And, they are cost-competitive.

Twenty-year material warranties are customary for metal roofing systems, which is considerably longer than the standard protection for built-up and single-ply systems. Long-term warranties are sometimes offered for weathertightness on metal roofs, including those with a 1/4:12 slope.

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Standing seam roofs can qualify for the UL-90 wind-uplift rating—the highest in the industry—that can substantially reduce insurance rates in high-wind areas. It must be combined with the roof manufacturer’s UL-90 system, which includes the panels, concealed clips, sealants and structural supports. The standing seam metal roof can also carry a Factory Mutual Class A fire rating.

5. Do standing seam metal roofs resist corrosion?

A. Metal roof panels resist corrosion with the help of a zinc, aluminum, or aluminum-zinc alloy metallic coating applied to the base steel.

Additional protection can come from attractive, specially pigmented organic paints that harmonize the roof with conventional brick, concrete and wood sidewall materials. Popular beige and earth-tone colors allow architects to coordinate the roof attractively with other design elements of the building.

6. I need a material that has flexibility in design. Should I consider standing seam metal roofing?

A. Yes. Steep slopes and flat roof profiles can be designed with the standing seam roof. The structural roof is the industry’s alternative to flat build-up and single-ply systems. The roof spans from support structural to support structural in new construction with slopes of 1/4:12 or more. The architectural standing seam roof is used for visually exposed roofs, mansards facia, and similar applications. It is a water shedder and needs slopes of 3:12 or greater.

Like wood shakes, tile and slate, this application needs some form of decking for support and a base felt for added protection against moisture penetration.
7. Are standing seam metal roofs recyclable?

A. Yes. The overall recycling rate of steel products in North America is 70.7 percent—the highest of any construction material. Building professionals are becoming increasingly aware of the importance of using recyclable metal roofing materials for retrofit applications over old non-metallic roofs. This helps avoid expensive tear-off and disposal of solvent and chemical-based materials, which often wind up in overburdened landfills.

8. Should I consider standing seam metal roofing for retrofit projects?

A. In most retrofit projects, standing seam roofs can be installed right over existing built-up roofs, eliminating costly and time-consuming tear-offs. The metal panels are attached to a steel sub-assembly to provide the necessary slope for ice and water to drain, providing a low-slope solution to flat built-up roofs.

Metal Roofing is No Noisier Than Asphalt Roofing

Surprisingly, properly installed metal roofing is no noisier than any other type of roof. Metal roofing is typically installed over a solid substrate. Additionally, the attic and insulation provide a sound barrier. If you wish to install metal roofing over your existing roof, the metal roof will most likely be raised over the existing roof by means of furring strips. These furring strips will create an air pocket which will further deaden sound.

Walking on Metal Roofing is Difficult and Dangerous

A metal roof is slippery and becomes even more slippery when wet.

Metal Roofing Does Not Attract Lightning Any More Than a Conventional Roof Does

Not only that, but if metal roofing does happen to get struck by lightning, it is less combustible than conventional roofing materials such as shake shingles.

Metal Roofing Has an Expected Life Equal to or Greater Than Conventional Roofing Products

If you live in fire-prone areas, such as Southern California, metal roofing will extinguish any embers. Insects such as termites can never eat metal roofing. It’s impervious to rot and mildew. And because it conducts heat quickly from the sun, snow slides off more quickly than with conventional roofing. Still, most metal roofing manufacturers will warrant their products for an average of 30 years, which is about the same as conventional roofing manufacturers.

When You Install Metal Roofing, Expect to Pay More

In sharp contrast to asphalt shingles (the cheapest type of roofing product), you may pay $300 to $600 per square (a square is 100 square feet).

Metal Roofing Can Be Installed Over Your Existing Roof
While this is not unusual (conventional roofing products can be installed over existing roofs), it is good to know that metal roofs can be installed over your existing roof without the need for tearing off shingles.

Low-Pitch Roofs Are Perfect for Metal Roofing
Because metal roofing comes in larger sheets and the pieces are so tightly sealed together, you can install metal roofing on gently pitched roofs.

Metal Roofing Not the Best Material for Severe Hailstorms
Metal roofing will weather pea-sized hailstorms. But if your area ever experiences severe hailstorms with larger stones, your aluminum or copper roof may get dented. Steel is harder and will fare better in the event of a hailstorm.

Modifying Metal Roofing is More Difficult Than Conventional Roofing Materials
Asphalt shingles are fairly easy to replace because they are available at your local home improvement store and because you’re working with small pieces. Metal roofing, on the other hand, is generally available only through select retailers. Also, the large sheets are difficult to handle and fabricate unless you are a professional.

The tax credits were already in place thanks to the Energy Policy Act of 2005. At that time homeowners who installed an Energy Star labeled cool metal roof could receive a tax credit of 10 percent of the material cost up to $500. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (a.k.a. the Stimulus Package) extended that same tax credit through 2010 and increased the maximum amount to 30 percent of the material cost up to an aggregate maximum over the two years of $1500. The specifics of the tax incentive are covered in Section 25C of the IRS Tax Code. Homeowners need to use IRS Form 5695(2009 version).

Contractor credit
Other Federal tax incentives exist for new residential construction and commercial construction. For new residential, a qualified contractor can receive a $2,000 tax credit for building a home that is 50 percent better than the performance according to IECC-2004. This credit was extended through 2009. A variety of energy efficient building features and processes can help to achieve that level of performance. A cool metal roof is no exception. Cool metal roofing has been shown to reduce annual cooling energy on homes by 25 percent compared to dark roof surfaces. They also can help to reduce peak demand electricity consumption by 15 percent in certain parts of the country.

For commercial building owners, a tax deduction of up to $1.80 per square foot is available if the building is designed and constructed to be 50 percent more energy efficient than one built to ASHRAE 90.1-2001 standards. That deduction has been extended through 2013 in the Stimulus Package. Again, a cool metal roof can contribute to the cooling and heating energy savings in these types of buildings.

Energy Star
Throughout the Federal Energy related legislation, references are made to the EPA’s Energy Star program. Energy Star also has a Roof Products Program that lists products meeting certain criteria for solar reflectance. For steep slope roofing (> 2:12) the criteria are initial solar reflectance of 0.25 and aged (3-year exposure) solar reflectance of 0.15.

Today’s Energy Star listing has more than 2,200 labeled products and more than 75 percent of them are either coatings for the metal roofing industry or metal roofing products themselves. Industry-recognized ASTM test methods are specified for measuring the surface solar reflectance of roof products.

In the current Energy Star Roof Products Program, manufacturers of roofing products are also required to report the measured thermal emittance of the products. Although there are no minimum criteria for emittance yet, EPA has suggested it will analyze the data being reported and possibly establish a requirement in future versions of the program.

The metal roofing industry is talking to Energy Star program officials to modify the existing program when it comes to metal roofing.

For example, we now know a roof installed in such a way as to create an airspace between the roof and the solid sheathing can significantly reduce heat flow through the roof. This phenomenon is known as Above Sheathing Ventilation (ASV) and when combined with a cool metal roof it can lower the heat passing through the roof by up to 45 percent. We are attempting to convince Energy Star that a roof with a solar reflectance less than their 0.25 minimum criteria, but installed with ASV, can be equivalent to a roof product that meets Energy Star, in terms of energy conservation.

Cool roofing
Energy Star listings for metal roofing are also connected to the products on the Cool Roof Rating Council ’s directory. The CRRC is an ANSI independent organization that has established a third-party methodology for determining the solar reflectance and thermal emittance of all roof products. Unlike Energy Star the CRRC does not establish a cool roof definition or criteria based on reflectance and emittance. But the data in the CRRC directory can be used to populate Energy Star listings and for codes, standards or green initiatives to reference.

Renewable energy
In addition to the cool nature of metal roofing, which in itself makes it a green product, the surge in popularity of renewable energy is good news for metal roofing. A metal roof is the perfect platform for building-integrated photovoltaic systems. Fastening techniques now allow most PV systems to be installed on metal roofing without penetrating the roof surface. The synergy between the metal roof and the PV array is excellent since they both have a similar expected service life.

Wind power is another source of renewable energy. Many novel and new wind turbine designs are making their way into the marketplace. We are not just talking about windmill farms lining the horizon. Many new wind turbine technologies lend themselves to installation on roofs. Again, with metal roofing, the durability of the product, and the fastening technologies that prevent penetration, make metal roofing an ideal platform for introducing wind power to a building as well.

Metal roofing is a green product. The Federal Government sees it that way, and its properties allow it to be specified that way in numerous green building initiatives, rating programs, rebates and standards.

Energy Codes and Rating Systems for Roofing is a self-guided module that will help participants become familiar with the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System, the Green Building Initiative’s Green Globes program, and energy-efficiency calculators for buildings. Participants also will learn about vegetative, photovoltaic and cool roof systems; how climate, geography and building use affect energy efficiency; and how different organizations and agencies define sustainability. Unless otherwise noted, the information contained in the module relates to low-slope roof systems.

Energy Codes and Rating Systems for Roofing is one of seven modules in NRCA University’s Roofing, Energy and the Environment Series, an online educational program aimed at helping roofing professionals and end users understand how roof systems can contribute to energy conservation and environmental protection. Other modules, Vegetative Roof Systems, Cool Roofs, and Photovoltaics and Roofing, launched in late 2008 and early 2009. Upcoming modules are Energy Efficiency in Roof Systems; EnergyWise Tutorial and Case Studies; and the Roofing, Energy and the Environment Series Certificate Examination.

For more information, contact NRCA’s Customer Service Department at (866) ASK-NRCA (275-6722) o r info@nrca.net . Registration can be completed online at www.nrca.net/nrcauniversity .