Over the past three years that Jim Kirby and I have been writing the Sustainable Roofing column, we have frequently recommended that roofing contractors become the local experts in areas where roofing intersects critical energy and environmental issues. Examples of areas of expertise we have discussed in this column include rooftop solar, daylighting, recycling and cool roofing. As we end our third year of discussing sustainable roofing, I’d like to mention a new opportunity involving cool roofs and energy savings that may offer an outstanding opportunity to generate new sales and profit for your company.savings that may offer an outstanding opportunity to generate new sales and profit for your company.

On Nov. 11, I had the opportunity to present a free webinar sponsored by Architectural Roofing & Waterproofing titled “Reducing Peak Electrical Demand: The Hidden Benefit of Cool Roofs.” In this webinar, I discussed how many electrical utilities in the United States now include peak demand charges in their monthly electrical bills. These peak demand charges are targeted toward the highest usage periods of the day, usually in the heat of the late afternoon when air conditioning demand is the highest. Because peak demand charges may account for up to 50 percent or more of a typical electrical bill, even small reductions in peak electricity usage can have a big effect in reducing your customers’ monthly electrical costs.