Cool Roofs
GE Silicones and Polythane Systems have been a Charter Partner in the EPA Energy Star® Roof Products Program, since February 9, 1999.
Some astonishingly simple measures could save the US billions in energy costs - not to mention making the summer in the city bearable. With summers getting hotter and smog increasing, a Cool Roof might be the answer for the 21st century. Our Cool Roof Systems also stop leaks, adhere to most surfaces, are UL and FM listed and have a life that can exceed 20 years.
A Cool Roof
A Cool Roof is a roof that has a light colored coating which reflects the sun's heat and UV rays. These roofs lower the building temperature and reduce sunlight degradation. Cool Roofs can reduce air conditioning costs, reduce smog and help the environment. In addition to the highly reflected top light colored coat, the 1" SPF layer provides for an R value of 7.0. Roof surface temperatures can be reduced up to 70°F. Air infiltration will be eliminated and electric bills can be reduced by up to 50%.
Urban Heat Islands
An "Urban Heat Island" is an invisible dome of hot air that heats cities up to 10 degrees warmer than surrounding areas. The higher temperatures increase air pollution and energy use. Now, NASA scientists are on a new thermal imaging mission to pinpoint who's hot - and who's not, and how we can keep our cool. Also, the warming of the nighttime temperature is due to the Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect, which is the result of two main features of urban areas. First, roofs, roads and paved surfaces store heat during the day, which is then released slowly over the evening due to the thermal properties of the surface materials and the building geometry which traps the heat stored during the day.
The second contributing factor to the UHI is due to the artificial heat released into the urban atmosphere by combustive processes from vehicles, industrial activity and the heat that escapes from commercial and domestic air conditioning. About half the U.S. population lives in heat islands!
A highly successful experiment in measuring how cities can keep their cool will be repeated in several U.S. cities this summer. The principle behind the Urban Heat Island Pilot Project (UHIPP) relates to the differences in cooling and heating between the natural and manmade surfaces that make up a city. "Urban forests are important to keeping cities cool," said principal investigator Dr. Jeff Luvall. "What's important are both the extent and arrangement of these forests."
The award winning TV program Today's Environment highlighted the environmental advantages of the PSI/GE roofing system on the season premier broadcast (Show #739).
Some of the points highlighted in the program were:
- PSl's leadership in the development and implementation of non-CFC based blowing agents.
- The reduction in the burning of fossil fuels that occurs when energy efficient SPF roofs are used.
- The fact that SPF roofs can be applied without removing old BURs, reducing the load on overburdened landfills.
- The renewability of SPF roofing systems. By periodic recoating programs, SPF roofs can have an indefinite life expectancy.
Cost Savings with SPF Cool Roofs
The results of an in-house survey are listed below indicating a 4 ½ year payback, strictly through reduced utility bills. (Study conducted by Gerald Scott, Director of Energy, Texas A&M University)
| Year | Roof Sq. Ft. | Construction Cost | Annual Energy Savings |
Payback Period (Discounted) |
| 1980 | 61,563 | $164,214 | $76,055 | 2-1/3 yr. |
| 1981 | 75,670 | $184,304 | $16,532 | 7-1/2 yr. |
| 1982 | 44,280 | $126,400 | $31,144 | 3-1/3 yr. |
| 1983 | 163,516 | $414,135 | $74,048 | 4-1/2 yr. |
| 1984 | 248,500 | $805,346 | $129,681 | 4-1/2 yr. |
| Total | 593,519 | $1,694,399 | $327,460 | 4-1/2 yr. |
In Los Angeles, for every degree the temperature rises above 70°F (19°C), the incidence of smog increases 3 percent. LBNL researchers estimate that if all the buildings in the greater Los Angeles area had cool roof systems, the total energy and smog savings (i.e., lower hospital bills and fewer lost workdays caused by smog inhalation) would be about half a billion dollars per year.
A 1-degree rise in temperature can mean a 2 percent increase in the demand for cooling power. That might not sound like much, but over a year it can translate into $25 million worth of electricity in Los Angeles alone.