Aluminum foil roof?

[Ryland]

because of the low hight of the peek of your roof (18") I still think you are going to be best off insulating your attic space, and even adding normal non powered roof vents, $50 later and you will have a well insulated, vented attic, keeping your ceiling cool, and adding resale value to your house, a white roof will also add resale value to a house in Arizona, because the shingles will last longer, and your cooling bills will be lower, white roof paint looks to be about $25 a gallon, and should cover 100-150 square feet of roof, last many years and it will never blow away.

[LostCause]

Originally Posted by Ryland

because of the low hight of the peek of your roof (18") I still think you are going to be best off insulating your attic space, and even adding normal non powered roof vents, $50 later and you will have a well insulated, vented attic, keeping your ceiling cool, and adding resale value to your house, a white roof will also add resale value to a house in Arizona, because the shingles will last longer, and your cooling bills will be lower, white roof paint looks to be about $25 a gallon, and should cover 100-150 square feet of roof, last many years and it will never blow away.

I highly agree with everything said here. Insulation, vent fan, and white paint. I suppose it depends on purity of the color, but white paint should reflect nearly the equivalent of a mirrored surface. It's cheap, easy, durable, and less likely to piss off the neighbors...and less conspicuous.

Since it's so dry there, I think a swamp cooler could easily take care of all your A/C needs. Cheap to buy, run, and maintain. Not to mention, it'll help with the quality of life...especially the nose bleeds...

Originally Posted by trebuchet03

Wow, that Earthship thing is totally cool! Thanks for linking

Thank you Ed Begley.

- LostCause

[HotRod]

The "white paint" would be an white elastomeric coating. They use it on mobile home roofs (I known, I live in one). You can by that stuff anywhere. Not to expensive, and it's made for roofs.

EarthShip. Man was I totally into that for about a year. I read all of the books and loved the concept, but good luck getting it past p&z. (not to mention a LOT of work) However, despite not going for the earthship in the end, most of the concepts that are contained in the books can be modified and applied to your current situation. I have done this with my mobile home and as a result, I have an all electric mobile home that had a monthly power bill of no more that 40 dollars a month, even in winter. Another suggested read would be Morgage Free by Rob Roy. It is inspitational/informative and lead me down the path I am on now. (owning my own home +2 aces free and clear before i turn 30) Check it out.

[cfg83]

LostCause -

Originally Posted by LostCause

I highly agree with everything said here. Insulation, vent fan, and white paint. I suppose it depends on purity of the color, but white paint should reflect nearly the equivalent of a mirrored surface. It's cheap, easy, durable, and less likely to piss off the neighbors...and less conspicuous.

...

- LostCause

Also, if you live near an airport, I could imagine the authorities getting upset with you.

CarloSW2

[Who]

The sun packs a mean punch. We just don't know how to absorb it or deflect it altogether.

[diesel_john]

if you have eve troughs, a rain barrel, old cistern, or surplus tank, a small properly sized pump, a soaker hose or two along the peak. running 24/ 7 will cool the tank back down everynight. late fall thur early spring heat the house with it. it will save enough power costs to finance a solar cell, battery and eventually run for free. You will have to monitor the water quality and add bleach when necessay. i bet, i could build it for a couple hundred. the sound of trickling water in the desert, priceless.

[boxchain]

WOW that's a shallow roof!

You want to search for 'radiant barrier' and 'building science' to find what you're looking for. They are normally installed in the attic and used with an attic fan.

I think foil would get torn up pretty quickly.

If water were plentiful you could setup a roof sprinkler. The sun heats up the water and evaporates it, cooling it.

[bennelson]

Too bad you have almost a flat roof. Those solar powered vent fans really work very well, but it doesn't sound like you even have enough room for a gable-end fan.

Go with the roof paint. There are special ones designed for painting roofs to prevent heat absorbing in. Paint won't blow off or make holes in your shingles.

It is well worth the investment, you won't be sorry.

[Ryland]

Originally Posted by bennelson

Too bad you have almost a flat roof. Those solar powered vent fans really work very well, but it doesn't sound like you even have enough room for a gable-end fan.

The solar roof vents I've installed had an adjustable mount so they could be put in a near flat roof, or if they were near the ridge they could almost work on the north side of the roof or on a roof with the ridge running north south and they work really well, limiting the number of holes you need to saw thru the roof.

[IndyIan]

Why not just put a tin roof on top of the shingles, well actually steel or aluminum these days.
Its done all time here, use 2x4 strapping to create some airspace between the shingles and put in a ridge vent all the way across. You might have to get a bit tricky with the stapping as usually its put in perpendicular to the grade which isn't ideal for venting. Unless you are 12 years old it will be the last time you even think about your roof.
Shingles are not enviro friendly at all so never having to replace them is good selling point to the wife.
Ian