Energy savings potential of roofing research

Technical Report · Thu Dec 01 04:00:00 EST 1983

OSTI ID:5484311

Chang, T C; Busching, H W

This report quantifies energy savings that would accrue through use of increased roof insulation and describes low-slope roofing system research which would conserve energy. Adding insulation to uninsulated or poorly insulated low-slope roofs would save as much as 730,000 billion Btu - about 1% of the total annual US energy consumption; while, increasing the service life of low-slope roofs by one year would save approximately 42,000 billion Btu - about 0.06% of the total annual energy consumed. Estimates regarding low-slope roof areas and national energy savings potential from conserving space heating and cooling energy wasted through the low-slope roof areas were developed. In addition, estimates of the relative quantities of different low-slope roofing systems currently in place and trends have been summarized. Significance of the effects of solar radiation on thermal energy losses and gains through roofs were reviewed. Embodied energies of several typical low-slope roofing materials and systems have been examined and/or estimated. Savings of embodied energy attributable to increasing roof life by one year were estimated together with payback periods for embodied energy used in typical low-slope roofing systems. Estimates have also been developed for variations in the mass of common roofing systems and for a range of thermal time lags. Different mechanical attachment techniques have been described and estimates of energy costs resulting from these techniques are reviewed.

• Research Organization: Clemson Univ., SC (USA). Dept. of Civil Engineering
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-26
• OSTI ID: 5484311
• Report Number(s): ORNL/Sub-82-22293/1; ON: DE84004220
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
320100* -- Energy Conservation
Consumption
& Utilization-- Buildings
ENERGY CONSERVATION
ENERGY LOSSES
FASTENERS
HEAT GAIN
HEAT LOSSES
JOINTS
LOSSES
MASS
PAYBACK PERIOD
RADIATIONS
RESOURCE POTENTIAL
ROOFS
SOLAR RADIATION
STELLAR RADIATION
THERMAL INSULATION
THERMAL MASS