Cool roofing is the fastest growing sector of the building industry, as building owners and facility managers realize the immediate and long-term benefits of roofs that stay cool in the sun. Studies exploring the energy efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and sustainability of cool roofs show that in warm or hot climates, substituting a cool roof for a conventional roof can:
- Reduce by up to 15% the annual air conditioning energy use of a single story building
- Cool interior spaces in buildings that do not have air conditioning, making occupants more comfortable
- Reduce carbon emissions by lowering the need for fossil-fuel generated electricity to run air conditioners
- Potentially slow global warming by cooling the atmosphere
If you are installing a new roof or reroofing an existing building, a systems approach to providing an energy efficient roof should be taken with a cool roof considered as one of the options available.
U.S. Department of Energy’s brochure on cool roofs; describing the science behind cool roofs, how to purchase cool roof materials, and the benefits of cool roofs.
Photo Credit: Robin Kutesa