Preparatory meteorological modeling and theoretical analysis for a neighborhood-scale cool roof demonstration
Abstract
Replacing dark conventional roofs with more reflective “cool” roofs has been proposed as a method to lower urban air temperatures. Many meteorological studies have simulated potential cool roof air temperature reductions. However, economic and logistical challenges make it difficult to perform the large-scale demonstrations needed to verify these model results. This work assesses whether a neighborhood-scale cool roof demonstration could yield an observable air temperature change. We use both an idealized theoretical framework and a meteorological model to estimate the air temperature reduction that could be induced by increasing roof albedo over ~ 1 km2 area of a city. Both the idealized analysis and model indicate that an air temperature reduction could be detected, with the model indicating a reduction of 0.5 °C and the idealized analysis indicating a larger reduction of 1.3 °C. Follow-on modeling is recommended prior to design of a neighborhood-scale demonstration.
- Authors:
-
- Lawrence Berkeley National Lab. (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States)
- Publication Date:
- Research Org.:
- Lawrence Berkeley National Lab. (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States)
- Sponsoring Org.:
- USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Energy Efficiency Office. Building Technologies Office
- OSTI Identifier:
- 1459407
- Alternate Identifier(s):
- OSTI ID: 1549267
- Grant/Contract Number:
- AC02-05CH11231
- Resource Type:
- Accepted Manuscript
- Journal Name:
- Urban Climate
- Additional Journal Information:
- Journal Volume: 24; Journal Issue: C; Journal ID: ISSN 2212-0955
- Publisher:
- Elsevier
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- 54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
Citation Formats
Millstein, Dev, and Levinson, Ronnen. Preparatory meteorological modeling and theoretical analysis for a neighborhood-scale cool roof demonstration. United States: N. p., 2017.
Web. doi:10.1016/j.uclim.2017.02.005.
Millstein, Dev, & Levinson, Ronnen. Preparatory meteorological modeling and theoretical analysis for a neighborhood-scale cool roof demonstration. United States. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.uclim.2017.02.005
Millstein, Dev, and Levinson, Ronnen. Tue .
"Preparatory meteorological modeling and theoretical analysis for a neighborhood-scale cool roof demonstration". United States. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.uclim.2017.02.005. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1459407.
@article{osti_1459407,
title = {Preparatory meteorological modeling and theoretical analysis for a neighborhood-scale cool roof demonstration},
author = {Millstein, Dev and Levinson, Ronnen},
abstractNote = {Replacing dark conventional roofs with more reflective “cool” roofs has been proposed as a method to lower urban air temperatures. Many meteorological studies have simulated potential cool roof air temperature reductions. However, economic and logistical challenges make it difficult to perform the large-scale demonstrations needed to verify these model results. This work assesses whether a neighborhood-scale cool roof demonstration could yield an observable air temperature change. We use both an idealized theoretical framework and a meteorological model to estimate the air temperature reduction that could be induced by increasing roof albedo over ~ 1 km2 area of a city. Both the idealized analysis and model indicate that an air temperature reduction could be detected, with the model indicating a reduction of 0.5 °C and the idealized analysis indicating a larger reduction of 1.3 °C. Follow-on modeling is recommended prior to design of a neighborhood-scale demonstration.},
doi = {10.1016/j.uclim.2017.02.005},
journal = {Urban Climate},
number = C,
volume = 24,
place = {United States},
year = {Tue Oct 03 00:00:00 EDT 2017},
month = {Tue Oct 03 00:00:00 EDT 2017}
}
Web of Science