If you’re among the more than two million residents in Houston, TX, you get to enjoy the perks of big city life without the hefty price tag. The Third Quarter 2012 C2ER Cost of Living Index shows Houston as having one of the lowest overall costs of living among the 29 metropolitan areas that has more than 2 million people. As a city that is also considered the Energy Capital of the World, many people do their part to keep enjoying the perks the city offers.
There is no doubt that many people who want to keep their energy costs low. One of the ways to achieve that is to get a new roof, especially if yours is due for an overhaul, or make your existing one more energy efficient. With many options to choose from, how can you check which residential roofing throughout Houston is most suitable for your needs? A new tool by roof manufacturer GAF may answer that question.
Launched in February, GAF’s Cool Roof Energy and Sustainability Tool, or CREST, helps homeowners, contractors, and other property consultants to compare the energy savings of various roofing systems that are available in the market. Aside from GAF itself, people can use it to compare roof materials from other manufacturers, such as Carlisle SynTec, CertainTeed, Duro-Last, Firestone, IKO, JM, Malarkey, Owens Corning, Sika Sarnafil, and TAMKO.
Because it is easy to use and mobile-friendly, CREST enables users to compare multiple roof materials in terms of design options, levels of reflectivity, and thickness of insulation, among others. It doesn’t stop there! Building professionals and general contractors can also print customized reports including building site images from internet-based mapping services. Another benefit that CREST offer is that it allows users to search for rebates.
Granted, CREST may not be easily understandable to the average homeowner. In order to generate a report and compare costs of different roof materials, one has to enter certain information or choose from various categories that only industry veterans can comprehend. Still, this is a tool an experienced professional like Live Oak Construction can use to help their clients find the most suitable and energy-efficient roofing systems.
Although registration is required to use CREST, it’s completely free. Users start by clicking the Register link, fill-in the required fields, and click “Register” when done. By then, homeowners and roofing professionals can use the tool to begin their search for energy-efficient residential roofing in Houston that meets their needs and budgets.
