For centuries, people have equated colors with temperature effects. Darker colors represent the cooler months when we need to supplement home heat. Light colors reflect heat and are the colors of spring and summer when heat reflection and dissipation is desirable.

Colors and Degree Days

Over the last five years, the Peachtree City area has needed more home heating than cooling by about one-third. The Weather Service collects temperature highs and lows, along with degree days. They use equipment to measure the temperatures 24/7 and apply a formula that tells them how many total degrees your house needs heating or cooling based on temperature fluctuations during that 24-hour period. The base temperature is 65 degrees F. If the air stayed at 65 degrees for a 24-hour period, it would be a 0 heating or cooling degree day.

Since the heating degree days outnumber the cooling degree days, the colors for your home should lean more toward the dark versus light. Instead of a light exterior, you might save more energy by using a medium-brown hue. Light homes are far more common in Florida where cooling degree days dominate the weather and the temperature effects of dark colors raise cooling costs.

Roofing Colors

Even though darker colors absorb heat, they don’t necessarily make a good roof. The heat from the shingles can infiltrate into the attic. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has found that cold attics with enough insulation prevent ice dams, which are dangerous and harmful. In fact, the DOE has a designation for Energy Star light-colored roofing materials that reflect heat versus absorb it.

Interior Design Colors

Since Peachtree City has its share of hot weather, mixing the light and dark colors indoors gives you a chance to surround yourself with colors that work well year-round.

It does help to think about the temperature effects of the colors you use. The pros at Powers Heating & Air want to help you make your home as energy efficient and comfortable as possible. We provide HVAC services for Peachtree City homeowner.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Peachtree City, Georgia and surrounding areas about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Guide or call us at 770-487-2040.