The EnergyWise Roof Calculator is an interactive software application with an easy-to-use, graphical method for constructing roof assemblies that both evaluate thermal efficiency and estimate energy costs under normal operating conditions. Users enter specific information about a roof assembly, the region and the building, such as:
* Roof dimensions
* Major penetration dimensions
* Existing insulation if recovering
* Type of deck
* Building energy sources for heating and cooling
EnergyWise then takes these details to generate a report summarizing the proposed roof assembly design, estimated heating and cooling costs, proper vapor retarder placement and minimum thermal requirements. The benefits of EnergyWise are many:
The program analyzes roof assembly configurations in a fraction of the time it would take to manually calculate the results for a single roof assembly configuration. The program easily illustrates the potential to save building owners money in heating and cooling costs. Many building owners do not recognize the magnitude of potential heating and cooling savings that are possible with effective insulation. EnergyWise can easily show the heating and cooling costs associated with various roof system designs (such as combinations of thermal insulation and roof surface reflectivity)
