Cool roofs for commercial roofs are affordable and long lasting!
The initial cost of a cool roof varies with the type of product specified.
There is a lot of support from utility companies for the increased use of cool roofs, because they are an effective way to decrease peak demand. Offering incentives is a lot cheaper for the utility companies than building a new plant to accommodate everyone’s peak usage.
Emerging evidence points to the possibility that cool roofs actually last longer than standard roofs. Because a cool roof doesn’t heat up as much, it doesn’t go through as much expansion and contraction, which means less wear and tear. Cool roofs do not experience nearly as much thermal shock, which could lead to a 20 percent longer roof life – another savings benefit.
From a bottom-line perspective, the major benefit of a cool roof is its potential to deliver energy savings. By reducing the absorption of solar heat through the roof, a cool roof lowers a facility’s cooling load and the energy required to power air conditioning. Most people may not think of the roof as an energy-saving opportunity, but there has been an Energy Star rating for roof parts for over 10 years. The roof of your building provides an opportunity to lower your peak energy usage and to decrease your bills.
How much savings can you expect a cool roof to deliver?
It depends on a lot of factors, including geography, materials and whether there are areas where heating and cooling are escaping from the building. In a hot climate, a cool roof probably saves 10 cents per square foot per year. In the northern part of the country, it is less (more like 3-5 cents per square foot). But still, there is a savings. Energy savings are not the only reason to opt for a cool roof!
Art Rosenfeld (Commissioner of the California Energy Commission) pioneered the study of urban heat islands — a phenomenon in which the air temperature in and around urban areas is raised by 6 to 8 degrees Fahrenheit primarily as a result of the prevalence of heat-retaining surfaces like dark roofs and asphalt streets. Because of their high emissivity and their ability to maintain low surface temperature, cool roofs have a well-documented ability to combat the urban heat island effect.
Cool Roofs are Good for the Environment
With today’s cool roofs available in a wide range of types and from a variety of manufacturers like Conklin, making the best choice for a home or building can be a challenge since there is no simple way to determine which roof system is the “best”. Efficiency ratings are a key indicator, but this is a tricky issue because when you talk about a roof you’re really talking about a number of different components that may have different efficiency characteristics. The best option is to discuss roofing options with a roof consultant or professional roofing contractor who is knowledgeable about cool roofs.