Highly reflective roof surfaces reduce cooling energy use and peak demand
Light-colored building surfaces are a time-honored method of staying cool, familiar to anyone who has seen the white-washed buildings in the Mediterranean, the Caribbean, and other warm climes. This heat rejecting strategy has been largely ignored in many places since the advent of mechanical air conditioning. However, recent monitoring experiments suggest that utilities could reduce summer cooling loads significantly by encouraging wide-scale application of light-colored, highly reflective roof surfaces on homes and small commercial buildings. Recent field tests in California and Florida show that application of light-colored coatings to poorly insulated roof systems can reduce cooling energy use and peak demand by more than one-third. Installation of highly reflective, or high ``albedo,`` roofs can be a cost-effective and low-risk utility DSM measure if done during new construction or when buildings are scheduled for reroofing. Most commercial building roofing materials are available in white versions or are easily coated. The residential market is more problematic, however, since asphalt shingles, which constitute more than half of the US residential roofing market, are not highly reflective. More research and market development is warranted to help realize the potential of highly reflective roofs. This includes additional product testing, labeling of highly reflective roofing materials, development of nonwhite reflective surfaces, additional performance monitoring, and implementation of utility pilot programs.
- OSTI ID:
- 55519
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: DN: Publication No. TU-93-12; PBD: 1993
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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