BOARDMAN, Ohio--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Cool roofs. White roofs. Vegetative roofs. Solar roofs. Sifting through the latest trends in the commercial roofing industry can be difficult, but the one trend that doesn't go out of style is saving money. With an energy efficient or sustainable roof, building owners and managers can reduce company costs and save energy. According to the Whitestone Building Maintenance and Repair Cost Reference, energy costs rose 29.4 percent in 2007 and in the beginning months of 2008, costs increased 34.7 percent. The biggest culprit in energy consumption is wet insulation. Mike Dohar of Simon Roofing Products estimates that wet insulation from even minor leaks can increase energy losses up to 70 percent. When insulation becomes wet, it loses its thermal resistance, which in the end translates to higher heating and cooling costs. A 10,000 sq. ft. roof may waste an additional $23,800 - $64,800 annually due to wet insulation, according to Dohar. This wasted energy cost assumes the entire 10,000 sq. ft. roof has wet insulation. The key to energy savings lies in the insulation. Properly installed and well-maintained insulation will save building managers thousands of dollars throughout the years. And keeping up to date on its condition will help to maintain the roofing system. Dohar said that Simon Roofing, a national commercial roofing company, has worked to incorporate energy savings into its products. "Our value added products can be customized to specific applications to provide solutions to the customer's problem, such as energy savings," Dohar said.
