A new "cool roof" initiative may change how virtually any kind of roofing is made, at least on the surface.
Few developments have implications industry wide, but a new "cool roof" initiative may change how virtually any kind of roofing is made, at least on the surface. Researchers have fine-tuned the pigments and surfacing techniques for roofing materials that increase the membrane's solar reflectivity, reducing heat gains and thus saving energy. Preliminary test results indicate measurable energy savings for building owners with a minimal cost increase.
Several roofing manufacturers are so convinced about the science behind it that they have already introduced products, even before in-situ testing is completed. An unprecedented industry effort is underway to catalog the "cool" pigments, test the energy savings and get to market a ready-made, painless energy saving product.