REFLECTIVE ROOFING CAN COME IN COLORS

PIQUA, Ohio — Classic Metal Roofing Systems reports that the reflective roofing materials recently called for by US Energy Secretary Steven Chu are already a reality – and they don’t have to be white! Metal roofing has been keeping homes naturally cooler by reflecting radiant heat and keeping it outside the home for many years.

According to Classic president Todd Miller, “We revolutionized the residential roofing industry several years ago when we began manufacturing metal roofing products which incorporate reflective pigments into their durable finishes. We call it our Hi-R Heat Barrier Coating.” These reflective pigments allow metal roofs, even in dark colors, to meet the Energy Star requirement for roofs that keep buildings naturally cooler and reduce air conditioning demand.

Metal roofs that meet the Energy Star requirement for reflectivity are currently eligible for the federal energy efficiency tax credit. Based upon the size of the home, this tax credit will hit its maximum allowable amount of $1500 for most homes and is available to homeowners who have these products installed in 2009 and 2010.

Miller continues, “While the reflective finishes are very beneficial, we also know that the design of certain metal roofs enhances their energy efficiency to an even greater degree. For example, we have third party testing showing that one of our products, purely through its unique design, keeps attics cooler with its reflective coating in brown than does a purely white roof of lesser design.”

Based in Piqua, Ohio and marketing its products nationally, Classic Metal Roofing Systems has found huge interest in its products in recent months. “Despite the economy, interest and sales of our products is at an all-time high. This is driven by the energy efficiency of our products, as well as by their other green benefits, and by the fact that, increasingly, homeowners want to invest their money in their current homes where it can provide them comfort, beauty, energy efficiency, and added home value.”

By choosing a roofing product that reflects radiant heat, homeowners can keep their attics significantly cooler in summer months and reduce their air conditioning demand. Utility companies like this because it reduces the peak load which their equipment must be sized to accommodate. While many people wonder if reflective roofing is a detriment during winter months, if a home is vented according to national building codes, the attic will be kept cool in the winter and efficiency then is achieved through insulation on top of the building’s ceilings.

Individuals with interest in how to achieve increased energy efficiency for their home through reflective roofing can visit Classic Metal Roofing Systems’ website at www.classicroof.com.

Classic Metal Roofing Systems was recently in the news for our commitment to helping the environment through roofing materials that have high recycled content, strong energy efficiency, and other ecological benefits.

You have to scroll down the article a bit to see the reference to us but for further details, check out this article from the Dayton Daily News:

http://www.daytondailynews.com/n/content/oh/story/news/local/2009/03/16/ddn031609greenjobs.html

Classic Metal Roofing Systems recently exhibited in the Green Products 2008 Expo held at the Marriott Marquis in midtown Manhattan. Along with about 70 other businesses, we showed our products to about 300 editors and writers from large and small media companies, primarily magazines and online e-zines.

We stood out from from the crowd of exhibitors a bit by having probably the only product that is a major component of every home. The closest thing to us was floor covering materials. Many of the other products were foods, healthy, and beauty items.

We had the opportunity to speak with representatives from several media. As we told them, our products offer homeowners an opportunity to close the recycling loop in a big way by purchasing a major home component that is up to 95% recycled in content. The energy efficiency, low weight, and sustainability of our products are additional green benefits.

For many years, we have known and touted the summer efficiency of our metal roofing systems. Through the reflection of radiant heat and the blocking of heat transfer by conduction, our products are proven to reduce attic heat gain, leading to lower cooling costs.

That has always led to the common sense next question of “What about during the winter?”

We’re pleased to report that recent studies at Oak Ridge National Laboratories indicate that metal roofing systems which incorporate an airspace above the roofdeck (like many of ours) help with winter efficiency as well by slowing down the escape of heat from the attic. Keeping the attic warmer in the winter can result in keeping the house naturally warmer as well.

Watch here for future test results of this most interesting research.

Under the Federal Energy Policy Act of 2005, energy efficient metal roofs installed over the last couple of years have been eligible for a tax credit, usually of $500. All of our products with hI-R paint systems are eligible for this credit due to their reflection of radiant heat which reduces air conditioning costs.

Currently, there is no approved plan in place for this tax credit to be continued beyond the end of 2007.

So, herein is an opportunity. If you are anticipating a metal roof purchase in 2008, it may make sense for you to bump that purchase up and buy the roof in 2007, making you eligible for the $500 tax credit on your 2007 tax return.

Roofing that will save you energy dollars and make you eligible for a nice tax credit? What could be better than that?