Cool roofing: Fid-Bau Portal

Cool roofing

Pilcher, George R.

Cool roofing is any roofing solution that reduces energy demand and mitigates the heat island effect. The most important aspect of cool roofing is that the radiative properties of the uppermost layer of the roof control all of the radiative properties of the entire roofing system. Benefits of cool roofing are clear in hot, sunny climates, particularly with regard to the use of air conditioning, which can be decreased, if cool roofing is installed. Cool roofing offers reduction in air conditioning energy costs, improvement of the building occupants' comfort and possible extension of the life of the roofing materials. For new buildings, cool roofs can reduce the air conditioning tonnage in which the owner must invest. Light coloured surfaces are fairly good reflectors of solar radiation. So are shiny metallic surfaces. Most performance drop-off involving radiative performance occurs in the first several years; after which time the performance stabilises. It is imperative, therefore, that manufacturers of roofing materials understand not only the initial radiative properties of their materials but also these same properties after several years of exposure has taken place.