DOE PAGES title logo U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Title: 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:
 [1];  [1]
  1. 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}
}

Journal Article:

Citation Metrics:
Cited by: 7 works
Citation information provided by
Web of Science

Save / Share: