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Abstract
Cool roofing has been around for quite some time now. Light-colored thermoplastic sheet materials and various types of coatings have been available for decades. Some have remained virtually unchanged over time and some of the earliest installations, dating back to 1970s in North American and 1960s in Europe, are still in service today. The thought process was generally that light colors would reduce the heat load on the surface, thereby slowing down the aging process of the membranes and underlying materials. This concept is still valid today and remains a key reason for installing light-colored coatings on top of dark-colored membranes. What have changed are the identification, recognition, and quantification of other benefits of cool roofing materials. The latest report from Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) highlights the potential cooling energy savings possible on commercial buildings around the country. Its evaluation of “heating energy penalties” shows that, even in northern states, the magnitude is quite small in this building segment. Taking into account year-round energy impacts, net energy and corresponding cost savings are achievable on commercial buildings across the country.
Cool roofing has been around for quite some time now. Light-colored thermoplastic sheet materials and various types of coatings have been available for decades. Some have remained virtually unchanged over time and some of the earliest installations, dating back to 1970s in North American and 1960s in Europe, are still in service today. The thought process was generally that light colors would reduce the heat load on the surface, thereby slowing down the aging process of the membranes and underlying materials. This concept is still valid today and remains a key reason for installing light-colored coatings on top of dark-colored membranes. What have changed are the identification, recognition, and quantification of other benefits of cool roofing materials. The latest report from Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) highlights the potential cooling energy savings possible on commercial buildings around the country. Its evaluation of “heating energy penalties” shows that, even in northern states, the magnitude is quite small in this building segment. Taking into account year-round energy impacts, net energy and corresponding cost savings are achievable on commercial buildings across the country.
Date
7/2009
7/2009
Author(s)
Stanley Graveline
Stanley Graveline
Page(s)
15-21
15-21
Source
Roof Consultants Institute
Roof Consultants Institute
Keyword(s)
cool roof benefits; ecological; energy saving; economic payback
cool roof benefits; ecological; energy saving; economic payback