I have a long and very involved rant on roofs and how they’re a completely over-looked and undervalued design element of a home improvement project (whether that’s a new house or a remodel or a roof replacement.) There are lots if tentacles on this hydra, so lets grab hold of the Cool Roof tentacle and take it for a ride. There’s more to come.

DaVinci Roofscapes Eco-Blend tiles being installed on a Homes For Our Troops project.

OK, roofs are often heat sinks. They absorb heat from the sun (solar gain), making it harder for the home to stay cool. That hot area above a home’s occupied space is called a “heat island.” In other words, a hot roof and/or attic space is sort of akin to the broiler in your oven, adding heat to your house from the top down, increasing the energy needed to cool it. Decrease the amount of heat building up in your roof system and decrease the energy required to cool it, right?

DaVinci’s RoofScapes’ new EcoBlend tiles can save 7-15% of total cooling costs while still looking great and being among the most durable shingles on the market. How? Color.

EcoBlend tiles in Weathered Gray and Castle Gray—which can be ordered for any DaVinci RoofScapes product—meet the Cool Roof Rating Council’s criteria for a cool roof, one which reflects sunlight away from the home making the actual surface of the roof and the interior space cooler. What’s more, Cool Roof requirements meet or exceed initial ENERGY STAR requirements and qualify for LEED’s Heat Island Effect points.

Cool, durable, beautiful…nice combination.

Mark Clement is co-host of MyFixItUpLife and tool expert for DIYNetwork.com.