Key numbers
77% of Colorado homes used a furnace as their main heating equipment in 2020, versus 60% nationally (U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), 2020).
| $1.33 | Xcel Energy Colorado began offering a $1.33 per square foot rebate in 2020 for AERC-rated insulated cellular shades on single-family homes. Source: U.S. Department of Energy, 2020 (program start) |
|---|---|
| 10.39 million | 10.39 million U.S. households said their home was too drafty most of the time in winter, and 5.14 million all of the time (2020). Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), 2020 |
| More than 3 million | More than 3 million U.S. homeowners installed solar panels from 2019 to 2023, per the American Housing Survey. Source: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), 2019-2023 |
Energy-efficient roofing in Colorado does save a little, but the effect of roof color is smaller here than in hot climates. A light or cool-color roof reflects more summer sun and keeps the attic cooler; a dark roof absorbs more winter sun. The U.S. Department of Energy says cool roofs save the most in hot climates and may add a small winter heating penalty, though in mixed climates that penalty can be smaller than the summer savings. For most Colorado Springs and Denver homes, attic ventilation, air sealing and insulation save more energy than shingle color, so pick the color you like and get the attic right.
What the research says
According to the DOE’s Consumer Guide to Cool Roofs:
- a white or special cool-color roof reflects up to 90 percent of the sunlight that hits it;
- in warm or hot climates, a cool roof can reduce a single-story building’s annual air conditioning energy use by up to 15 percent;
- a cool-color roof on a home can cut cooling costs at least 5 to 20 percent, with the biggest savings in hot climates;
- cool asphalt shingles cost about the same as conventional asphalt shingles;
- shingles lose some reflectance over time;
- a cool roof may increase winter heating needs, but even in mixed climates the winter penalty can be smaller than the summer savings;
- it is rarely economical to replace a sound roof just to make it more reflective.
Why Colorado is different from Austin or Phoenix
Colorado Springs’ 1991 to 2020 normals put the average July high at 86.5 degrees and the January high at 45.0, with about 32.5 inches of snow a year (NWS). The heating season is long and the cooling season is short. That shrinks the cooling benefit of a light roof and makes the winter effect matter more. In Austin, where the normal July high is 96.6 degrees, the math tilts strongly toward cool colors; see how to spot summer roof damage in Austin.
| Light or cool-color roof | Dark roof | |
|---|---|---|
| Summer attic heat | Lower | Higher |
| Winter solar gain | Less | More |
| Snow on a sunny day | Melts more slowly | Melts sooner |
| Shows dirt and algae | More | Less |
| Typical Colorado effect on bills | Small | Small |
What saves more energy than color
- Attic ventilation. Balanced intake and exhaust vents keep summer heat out of the attic and winter moisture off the deck.
- Air sealing. Gaps around lights, flues and attic hatches leak warm air into the attic, which also causes ice dams.
- Insulation when the deck is open. In Denver, an existing roof with no insulation in the cavity must be insulated (R-30 continuous above the deck, or R-38 for flat and R-49 for attic below it) when the sheathing is exposed during a reroof.
- Material. Metal and some cool-rated shingles reflect more heat; compare options in which roofing materials hold up in Colorado.
Picking a color you will live with
Energy is a small factor in Colorado, so let the house, the street and your HOA lead. If you are building, color is easiest to get right before the roof goes on; see roof decisions for a new house. If you are replacing, our guide to what you actually gain from a new roof covers the bigger payoffs, and how to choose a shingle color walks through the color decision.
Integrity Roofing and Painting is veteran-owned and family-run since 1990, an Owens Corning Platinum Preferred contractor with 650+ Google reviews. Call (719) 488-2800 in Colorado Springs or (303) 209-0152 in Denver, or book a free inspection and we will check your attic ventilation along with the roof. We respond the same business day.
Sources: U.S. DOE, Consumer Guide to Cool Roofs; NWS Pueblo, Colorado Springs normals 1991 to 2020; NWS Austin/San Antonio, Austin climate records, July; City and County of Denver, Roofing Guide and Checklist (updated 4/11/2024).
