Cool Roofs
An Energy Star “cool roof” is exactly what it sounds like: A white reflective roof that reflects almost 90% of the sun’s energy, keeping the roof cool and more energy efficient. Full sun at midday will increase the temperature of a black roof by approximately 90 degrees Farenheit. A white roof will only increase 10 to 25 degrees under the same conditions. Most commercial roofs are often the resting place of heating, ventilation, and air condition (HVAC) units. The function of HVAC unit includes consuming the air around the unit and cooling it down to temperatures directed by your thermostat. Cooling air that is 40-90 degrees Fahrenheit warmer requires significantly more use of electricity and wear on the HVAC units. A building owner can expect nearly a 35% reduction in their electricity usage with a “cool” roof. That’s green! Did you know that one sixth of the United States electricity consumption is from the use of air conditioning units? That is a lot of cooling! Over half of roofs are flat and building owners can do a lot to be more green by using an Energy Star white reflective roof.
