The most popular shingles for residential roofing have been asphalt shingles, however they are often thought of as not being very environmentally-friendly.

Recently though there have been advancements in the asphalt shingle industry to reflect a extra Eco-friendly consumer demand at a very attractive price.

One company making advancements in shingle technology is GAF, with its Timberline CoolSeries shingles, the top-selling shingle in the U.S.

They have incorporated engineering to reflect a higher percentage of the sun’s energy away from the shingle, rather than absorbing it, as do traditional asphalt shingles, saving vast amount of energy that would normally infiltrate attic and occupied living areas.

GAF Timberline CoolSeries Shingles – The Environmental Benefits

Using specially designed granules, the GAF Timberline CoolSeries shingles are able to reduce some of the heat that is generally absorbed into a roof with regular asphalt shingles. By using this reflective engineering, therefore reducing the amount of heat that is transmitted into the attic space of the residence, the home cooling system operated less frequently and that translates into cost and energy savings. It is documented that homes using this “Cool Roof” technology can save between 7 and 15 percent on their total cooling load, and even higher saving can be experienced in the warmer climates.

Before this technology was developed, reflective roofing was required to be very light or even white in color in order to obtain this same level of proficiency. What GAF has done with the Timberline Cool Series asphalt shingles is to coat each granule multiple times with a reflective material, allowing for a more variation in tone an color for shingle colors.

GAF Timberline Cool Series Shingles and the Energy Star Label

It is additionally interesting to note that the GAF Timberline Cool Series asphalt shingles meet the Energy Star label of the Department of Energy (DOE). During peak air-conditioning periods, these asphalt shingles will reduce the amount of air-conditioning that is necessary to cool the typical home. The welcome result of this is that the residence can be more energy effective and have a smaller air-conditioning system.

GAF Timberline CoolSeries Energy Star rated shingles additionally helps the roof to maintain a surplus constant temperature, reducing thermal shock, which over time would tend to minimize the life of the roofing material.

These asphalt shingles are also accepted by the Cool Roof Rating Council (CRRC), as a Cool Roof material.

GAF Timberline CoolSeries Asphalt Shingles: A Traditional Shingle with a Green Edge

Now with this fantastic green advantage, this make an already high-quality product even better. The environmental certifications of the GAF CoolSeries shingles qualify them for any available tax credits available from the state or federal governments.

Additional Advantages of GAF Timberline CoolSeries Fiberglass Asphalt Shingles

Energy Star label aside – there are many fine aspects that make these asphalt shingle very popular with environmentally-friendly home builders.

As with most GAF roofing products, they are very durable and have the highest quality with an extended life of up to 30 years. They are designed to protect against UV rays, which extends the shingles’ life. Also, using the GAF Dura-Grip adhesive on each shingle, the product is adhered securely to the roofing, giving it additional durability and wind resistance. Utilizing this patented system, these shingles can withstand winds of up to 130 mph.

GAF shingles are Class A fire rated from Underwriters Laboratories, the highest level of fire protection available.

With their patented StainGuard protection, you are assured that your shingles will stay beautiful and free from algae and mold buildup.

With the GAF Smart Choice Protection Plan, the shingles have a limited transferable warranty of 10 years.

Want to learn more about how much progress has been made with the asphalt shingle market? Be sure to visit our article, GAF Shingles, you can then go to our article GAF Shingles to gather more information on this environmentally friendly roofing products.