QUICK FACT: Choose light-colored roof shingles to reflect more of the sun's heat. The darker the shingles, the more heat will be absorbed during the summer season.
Light shingle colors have been shown to lower attic temperatures, but whether this means light shingles will last longer than dark shingles is unproven.
One thing that all experts agree on is that proper attic ventilation leads to longer shingle life. So our advice is to make sure you have more than enough roof and soffit vents and pick whatever color you like. Unless you want to save money on cooling—then you should choose a lighter color.