EARN ONE AIA/CES

Continuing Education
HSW/SD LEARNING UNIT

What’s So Cool About Cool Roofs?

Innovative technology allows designers to choose a cool
roof from myriad colors and materials for a variety of
roofing applications.

A cool roof slopes from one end of ImaginOn: The Joe & Joan Martin Center in North Carolina to the other. Construction photo in the inset shows the many ways this roofing system was installed to
accomodate skylights, slopes and a flat roof surface. This project received a LEED-NC Silver rating in 2006 receiving the LEED 7.2 credit for the mitigation of heat island effects.
(Photos courtesy of Gantt Huberman Architects, PLLC. Photography (left) by Tom Kessler Photography.)

Provided by the Cool Roof Rating Council

H
ip, square, flat, or pointed, cool roof products are being materials and colors and can be applied to virtually any building or
specified by architects to save energy, satisfy building roof slope in any location. It is intuitive that the extent of the benefits
codes and meet client expectations for comfort, cost will correlate to the building’s location, type and use, as well as to
and aesthetics. Cool roofs can be selected from a wide variety of the specific radiative properties of the selected roofing product.
However, what may be counter intuitive is the broad range
of locations in which cool roofs are proving to be a viable
CONTINUING EDUCATION
energy efficiency measure. Simply put, cool roofs are roofing
Use the learning objectives below to focus your study products that integrate materials with greater spectral
as you read What’s So Cool About Cool Roofs? reflectance than their traditional, non-cool counterparts,
To earn one AIA/CES Learning Unit, including one hour and thereby minimize the transfer of heat to the building
of health safety welfare/sustainable design (HSW/SD) below. This is true for a broad range of product types,
credit, answer the questions on page 10, then follow the colors, textures and roof slope applications.
reporting instructions or go to ce.greensourcemag.com and follow
the reporting instructions.
COOL ROOFS 101
Learning Objectives
After reading this article, you should be able to: A Closer Look at Radiative Properties
The two radiative properties that characterize cool roofs
• Define a cool roof. are solar reflectance and thermal emittance (see Figure on
• Describe the benefits of specifying a cool roof. page 2). A cool roof minimizes the solar heat gain of a build-
• Identify codes or green building programs that either require or offer ing by first reflecting incoming radiation and then by quickly
credit for cool roofs. re-emitting the remaining absorbed portion. As a result,
• Describe the options for cool roofing materials. the cool roof stays cooler than a traditional roof of similar
construction.
Reprinted from GreenSource, March/April 2009

What’s So Cool About Cool Roofs? 1

Continuing Education

the Solar Reflectance Index (SRI). SRI allows

actual measured solar reflectance and thermal
emittance values to be combined into a single
value by determining how hot a surface would
get relative to standard black and standard
white surfaces.
The standard black roofing material has a high
emittance value (90 percent) but a low reflectance value
(5 percent). This creates a hot roof surface because
even though the emittance is high, there isn’t enough
reflectance to help cool the roof. As such, the standard
black roof is given an SRI value of 0.
The standard white roofing material is highly
reflective (80 percent) and has the same emittance as
the standard black surface (90 percent). Its surface is
much cooler and the standard white roof is assigned
an SRI value of 100. Like solar reflectance and thermal
This diagram shows solar radiation on a roof surface.
emittance, a higher SRI value is synonymous with a
(Image courtesy of Cool Roof Rating Council.)
cooler roof.

When sunlight hits an opaque surface, some of the energy is Calculating SRI
reflected. The measured fraction of solar energy that is reflected Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory hosts an easy-to-
by a roofing material’s surface is called solar reflectance, or use SRI calculator on their website. All that is required is
albedo. Solar reflectance is measured on a scale from 0 to 1. High the solar reflectance and thermal emittance values and
albedo, more reflective surfaces stay much cooler than low albedo, the tool will calculate the SRI. The calculator is located at:
less reflective surfaces. So the higher the solar reflectance value coolcolors.lbl.gov/assets/docs/SRI%20Calculator/SRI-calc10.xls
the “cooler” the roof. Energy that is not reflected by the roof
is potentially absorbed by it; this is where thermal emittance Cool Roofs Equate to Big Benefits to the Owner
comes into play. and the Environment
Thermal emittance is the relative ability of the roofing When properly installed and maintained, cool roofs provide
material to re-radiate absorbed heat as invisible infrared light numerous benefits that contribute to the health of a community, to
(relative to a black body radiator). This absorbed heat will either the occupants of the building and to the owner’s pocket book.
be gradually or quickly re-radiated away from the roof; the quicker
the better because the longer the heat is trapped at the surface Among the benefits to the building occupants and owner are:
of the roof the more likely it is to penetrate the building below. • I mproved comfort because the building’s interior is subject
Thermal emittance is also measured on a scale from 0 to 1, so to less thermal flux and stays cooler during the warm
a roofing material with a higher thermal emittance will re-emit season.
absorbed thermal energy more quickly than a material with a low •R  educed energy costs because of reduced air-conditioning.
emittance and will result in a “cooler” roof. •L  onger AC unit life resulting from decreased air-conditioning
Though most roofing materials have a fairly high thermal loads.
emittance, in order to accurately determine a roofing product’s • Increased roof longevity due to reduced thermal flux.
“coolness,” or its ability to shield the building beneath it from
heat, both solar reflectance and thermal emittance must be Cool roofs are distinguished among energy
measured. It is important to note that it is possible for a roofing conservation measures because of the many environmental
product to have a very high emittance value and a reflectance benefits they can provide. This is attributed to the fact that
value ranging from very high to very low, or vice versa, although they combat the urban heat island effect. The urban heat
such products would not typically be considered “cool” roofs. A island effect is a relatively newly identified phenomenon that
high emittance value alone will not result in a “cool” roof nor will is characterized by a measured increase in the ambient air
a high reflectance value alone. The Solar Reflectance Index can temperature in cities over their surrounding rural areas.
be a useful tool for determining the overall thermal properties of This is due to roofs and other non-reflective surfaces that
a roofing product. absorb and trap solar radiation — or heat. The excess
trapped heat is gradually released to the ambient air
Solar Reflectance Index (SRI) throughout the day, evening and nighttime hours, warming
Codes, standards and programs that specify cool roofing up the urban core round the clock. The effect results in
requirements may also reference an additional calculated value, an environmentally negative and spiraling impact, including:

2 What’s So Cool About Cool Roofs?

 Continuing Education
This thermal image illustrates the reflected solar radiation from three different cool roof surfaces on an Ann Arbor, MI rooftop. The two roof segments that appear bright orange correspond to the two
most reflective products and the bright yellow segments to the somewhat less reflective product. The dark purple areas indicate the non-cool portions of the roof (or the least reflective surfaces).
The original photo is found on page 8.
(Photo courtesy of A3C Architectural Collaborative.)

• Increased demand for air-conditioning in both air-conditioned Calculating Energy Savings

and un-conditioned buildings, thus increasing the potential for Research by the Heat Island Group found that buildings with lightly
the installation of air-conditioners in buildings that currently don’t colored, more reflective roofs use up to 40 percent less energy
need them. for cooling than buildings with darker roofs.iii To calculate the
• Increased greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to global possible savings in energy provided by a cool roof, there are two
warming, released as a result of fossil fuel generated electricity online roof calculators that estimate savings.
to power air conditioners.
• Increased smog formation. • The DOE Cool Roof Calculator was developed by the
U.S. Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge Laboratory. This
Air Quality and Climate Change: calculator provides an estimate of cooling and heating
How Cool Roofs Help savings for small to medium size facilities that purchase
Through mitigation of the urban heat island effect with the electricity with a demand charge and an alternative version
reduction of ambient air temperatures, cool roofs also improve for larger facilities. http://www.ornl.gov/sci/roofs%2Bwalls/facts/
air quality. Smog is created by photochemical reactions of CoolCalcEnergy.htm
air pollutants, and these reactions increase at higher
temperatures. In Los Angeles alone,
mitigation measures that reduce the average
air temperature by 3K (5 °F) could yield a 12
percent reduction in smog (ozone) worth $360
M/year.i Lower ambient air temperatures and the
subsequent improved air quality also result in a
reduction in heat-related and smog-related health
issues, including heat stroke and asthma. In addition
to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions such
as CO2, by conserving electricity for air condition-
ing cool roofs reduce the emission of NO2 and SO2
particulates from power plants.
A Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
study found that world-wide reflective roofing will
produce a global cooling effect equivalent to offsetting
24 gigatons of CO2 over the lifetime of the roofs.
This equates to $600 billion in energy savings.ii The Nationwide implementation of cool roofs could mean an annual savings of $1 billion in cooling costs, according to a study by
study recommends cool roofs as a geo-engineering Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory’s Heat Island Group. Values shown reflect 1997 energy prices.
(Image courtesy of Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.)
mechanism to counteract climate change.

What’s So Cool About Cool Roofs? 3

Continuing Education

codes, including the Cities of Chicago, Houston, and Dallas.v In

The southwest energy addition, voluntary green building programs, such as The U.S.
efficiency project (sweep) Green Building Council’s LEED® program and the GreenGlobes™
The Southwest Energy Efficiency Project (SWEEP) is a environmental rating system, provide credit for cool roofs and
multi-state organization promoting energy efficiency primarily in several electric utility companies provide rebates.
the Southwest. SWEEP conducted a regional case study using
the cool roof at the Thomas O. Price Service Center in Tucson, Product Rating Resources
Arizona.iv This project highlights a retrofit of an existing 23,400 Rated product databases can assist the designer in selecting an
sq. ft office building. As part of a “Creating Cool” campaign, a appropriate cool roof product because they list pertinent product
cool roof was installed on Building One in order to offset the
information that can be easily compared. The designer can search
urban heat island effect.
The existing 28,000 sq.ft. aluminum roof included roofing products by the initial and aged solar reflectance and thermal
portions of a darker, blackened copper surface. The roof was emittance values as well as the slope application and type of roofing
top coated with a white elastomeric top coating in June 2001. material. A low-slope roof has a pitch less than or equal to 2:12. A
The peak temperature reduction between the black roof and the steep-sloped roof has a pitch greater than 2:12.
cool roof was an average of 78 °F and between the raw metal While existing rating systems are complementary to one
roof and the cool roof surface, 46 °F. The average temperature another, they do have slight differences in their requirements.
reductions were between 17 °F and 10 °F between the black ENERGY STAR, for example, aims to capture the most efficient
and metal roof and the cool roof surface. The building showed a products and set minimum requirements for both initial and aged
reduction in energy consumption of almost 50 percent due to
solar reflectance. In order for a product to be listed by ENERGY STAR,
the cool roof, primarily due to the decrease in energy used for
air conditioning. it must meet their minimum requirements (initial solar reflectance
The payback period for this investment in 2001 was of 0.65 and three-year aged value of 0.50 for low-slope products
approximately six years and the rate of return was 16 percent for and an initial reflectance of 0.25 and aged value of 0.15 for steep-
the investment. The new roof had the added benefits of repairing sloped products). The Cool Roof Rating Council (CRRC), on the other
existing roof leaks and extending the life of the roof due to the hand, does not set minimum requirements, but does require that all
UV-resistant coating that provided increased protection from testing be conducted by a licensed CRRC Accredited Independent
solar radiation. Testing Laboratory (AITL). The primary values of independent ratings
for cool roofs are standardized and consistent test methods,
• The EPA Cool Roof Calculator is provided by ENERGY STAR. credible test results, equal subjection of products to weatherization
This calculator allows the designer to input specific details in key climates, aged testing, and reliable product comparisons.
about a building, including heating and cooling systems as well
as location and the cost of energy. http://www.roofcalc.com/
RoofCalcBuildingInput.aspx
The most reliable source for solar
These calculators provide a simple pay back analysis to
determine the savings in electricity or natural gas through the
reflectance and thermal emittance
installation of a cool roof. data for cool roofs is independent
CHOOSING AND SPECIFYING A COOL ROOF: roofing product ratings.
Product Rating Resources, Product Types,
Building Programs & Codes
A cool roof should be chosen based on the slope of the roof, Both rating systems include aged testing, where products are
energy savings goals, the project location and climate, local code exposed to natural weather conditions for a three-year period of time.
requirement or green building credits, as well as aesthetic The CRRC uses three specific locations representing three key climate
preferences. Designers who are seeking sustainable design zones (hot/dry, hot/humid, and cold/temperate) to determine aged
credits may also want to consider the cradle-to-cradle aspects product performance. ENERGY STAR accepts products that have
of their materials choices, including recycled content, end of life been rated by the CRRC so long as the ratings meet ENERGY STAR’s
recyclability and use of toxic materials. minimum requirements for both initial and aged SR/TE values. The
Once the project parameters have been established, an most reliable source for solar reflectance and thermal emittance
appropriate roofing product must be selected. Because of the data for cool roofs is independent roofing product ratings.
environmental benefits of cool roofs, a growing number of building
codes include cool roof measures. Hence, it is prudent to first check Product Types
with the local or state building code to see if there are specific cool Materials for roofs can vary from asphalt to acrylics, and many
roofing requirements that must be satisfied. Such is the case with of these products have cool roof alternatives. The following list
the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning provides examples of some common roofing product types, but
Engineers (ASHRAE) Standard 90.1, California’s Building Energy does not account for every single type of roofing material in the
Efficiency Standards, Title 24, as well as a number of city building marketplace:

4 What’s So Cool About Cool Roofs?

 Continuing Education
• Built-up Roofing (includes asphalt and coal tar pitch): Built-up the coating is what determines the reflective properties of the
Roofing (BUR) consists of built-up layers of coated asphalt and roofing product.
insulation applied on site and can be covered with a capsheet or •S
 hingles, Slate, or Tile: These roofing products are
field-applied coating (surfacing materials). The “cool” part of this commonly used for residential buildings, or steeper-sloped
particular roof type refers to the properties of the capsheet, buildings, including some commercial buildings. For “cool” colored
typically a white mineral fiberglass surface, or coating, which shingles, the heightened solar reflectance comes from granules
are UV-resistant. that contain solar-reflective pigments. Slate and tile products
• Foam Roof Systems: Field-applied foam systems are sprayed are available with solar-reflective surfaces that increase the
on in liquid form and harden as they set on top of the roof. number of “cool” colors from which the designer can choose.
Factory-applied foam systems are formed into rigid panels and Additionally, the dense, earthen composition of slate and
coated with a reflective coating in the factory. The foam usually tile products provides increased thermal mass, which yields
gives the roof system additional insulation properties and the additional energy savings that are not captured through solar
coatings provide the “cool” rating. reflectance and thermal emittance measurements.
•M  etal: Metal roofing products can be shaped to look like •S
 ingle-ply: Single-ply roofing is a pre-fabricated sheet of rubber
shingles or shakes, or to fit unique curvatures, in addition to polymers. Single-ply roofing is laid down in a single layer over
a typical standing seam configuration. They come in a variety a roof. The single-ply membrane can be loose-laid and weight-
of factory-applied textures and colors, including darker “cool” ed down with ballast or pavers or firmly set on the roof and
colors with infrared reflective pigments. Metal products can attached with mechanical fasteners or adhesives. There are
also be coated in “cool” custom colors to meet a variety of client two main types of single-ply materials: single-ply thermoset and
preferences. single-ply thermoplastic. These roofing products can be speci-
• Modified Bitumen: Modified bitumen is bitumen (asphalt or fied with an ultra-violet-resistant and highly reflective surface.
tar) modified with plastic and layered with reinforcing materials
then topped with a surfacing material. Like BURs, the radiative Aging and Maintenance
properties of modified bitumen are determined by the surfacing Roofs are exposed to harsh climates, solar radiation and
material, so a “cool” modified bitumen product will be finished off pollution, which can reduce the solar reflectance of cool roofing
with a capsheet or coating to achieve a high solar reflectance. materials. Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory studied the
• Roof Coatings: Roof coatings can be divided into two three-year aging and weathering of cool roofing membranes made
categories: field-applied and factory-applied. Field-applied of single-ply roofing at various locations across the United
coatings are applied directly onto the roof surface, either on States. Results indicated that when washed with detergent, the
a new roof assembly or over an existing roof surface and may majority of the roofs will still provide 90 percent of
require an appropriate primer. Factory-applied coatings are their un-weathered reflectance (in some cases an algaecide
applied directly to products at the factory prior to distribution. was required). Standard maintenance practices as suggested
Examples of factory-applied coatings include coatings applied by the roofing manufacturer will keep your cool roof “cool” for a
to metal, and glazes that are applied to tiles. Once applied, longer time.

Building Programs and codes

(Please note: this section was current at the date of
publication. Please make sure to check with the
individual code body or program for updates.)
Increased recognition of the benefits of cool
roofing has led to the adoption of cool roof measures
in energy codes and the inclusion of cool roofing as
part of green building initiatives.
A B National energy codes developed by the
American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and
Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) and the
International Code Council (ICC) are not mandatory
regulations unless adopted by a jurisdiction as part
of a regulation or law. Many states and cities have
adopted either the ASHRAE or ICC codes or have
adopted their own building codes. ENERGY STAR,
C D California’s Title 24, ASHRAE, LEED® and Green
This composite image shows only a few of the many “cool” roofing product types that are currently available in Globes™ are codes and programs that have all
the marketplace. (Clockwise from left: Photo A courtesy of GAF Materials Corporation, Photo B courtesy of Hydro-Stop, included a cool roof measure of some description.
LLC., Photo C courtesy of Custom-Bilt Metals, Photo D courtesy of Decra Roofing.)

What’s So Cool About Cool Roofs? 5

Continuing Education

Voluntary Green Building Programs they look good, they work, they have minimal maintenance. All
There are many resources from the Department of Energy to that was needed was a color selection with an SRI high enough
various sustainable and green design organizations which assist to get the job done.”
architects in making the right choices for green buildings. The Recent budget evaluations, however, required the
following two programs are examples, but may not be all-inclusive: production team to replace the metal roof and the whole pitched
roof structural system with a conventional flat roof. The design
Green Globes™ team can still meet the requirements for LEED Credit 7.2, which
The Green Building Initiative’s Green Globes™ program is a green require an SRI value of 78 for low sloped roofs. The team has
management tool that includes an assessment protocol and a selected a white PVC membrane surface with an approximate
rating system and guide for integrating environmentally friendly SRI value of 104.
design into both new and existing commercial buildings. Green From the North to the South, LEED credits are obtainable
Globes ™ provides credit for cool roofs as a component of their by using cool roof systems, which are an important part of an
rating system. effective energy savings strategy and environmental design.

LEED Energy Codes

The U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED® program provides certi-
fication for the energy and environmental design in the planning ASHRAE
and construction of a building. From North Dakota to North ASHRAE standards allow designers to reduce roof insulation when
Carolina architects are planning LEED buildings which can attain a cool roof surfacing material is used on the roof. ASHRAE 90.1,
silver, gold or even platinum certification. The LEED program the Energy Standard for Buildings Except Low-rise Residential Build-
includes a credit for cool roofs under the sustainable sites ings, section 5.3.1.1, defines cool roofs as having a minimum solar
category in recognition of the importance of urban heat island reflectance of 0.70 and a minimum thermal emittance of 0.75.
reduction. The 2007 version of ASHRAE 90.1 adds an alternative of achiev-
Senior architect Dave Stafford, AIA, of FourFront Design ing a minimum SRI of 82. ASHRAE 90.1 only credits cool roofs
in North Dakota, designed the South Dakota National Guard in climate zones one, two and three, based on the DOE climate
Headquarters Building. This is to be a LEED Silver project and will zones map. vi
use a standing seam metal roof in Dove Gray to meet the LEED ASHRAE also produces an Advanced Energy Design Guide
Credit 7.2 requirements of an SRI less than 29 for a steep-sloped for Small Office Buildings and an Advanced Energy Design Guide
roof. Dave’s design team learned that, “About a third of the pastel for Small Retail. These guides provide suggestions for achieving
and metallic colors available for metal roofs will meet or exceed greater energy savings than standard 90.1. The guides include the
that requirement. Metal roofs are fairly popular around here - use of cool roofs in climate zones one, two and three.

International Energy Conservation Code

LEED® PROJECT — ImaginOn: The Joe & The International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) also contains
Joan Martin Center, Mecklenberg, SC both prescriptive and performance measures for energy
savings and references ASHRAE 90.1 in defining acceptable
Cheryl Walker, FAIA, LEED AP, of Gantt Huberman performance levels.
Architects, PLLC, obtained the LEED® SS Credit 7.2: Heat Island
Effects (Roof) for a project in Mecklenberg, South Carolina. The California — Title 24
Joe & Joan Martin Center, also called ImaginON, received a
Although cool roofs are not a mandatory measure for
LEED – NC® Silver rating in 2006. The roof of the large children’s
theater slopes from one end of the building to the other and has California’s Building Energy Efficiency Code, Title 24, these
to accommodate huge theater and light monitors incorporated regulations outline a clear prescription for the use of a cool
into the roof structure. The roof design combined: roof as part of a building envelope. Under Title 24, if a cool
• Standing seam milled aluminum used on the theater forms roof is not used in situations where it is prescribed, the energy
and light monitors, and savings must be made up in another way, such as insulation
• A high-albedo liquid rubber polymeric membrane coating over with a higher thermal resistance (R-value), or windows with a
a modified bitumen roof lower thermal conductance (U-value), etc. Title 24 promotes
The high albedo membrane made up 83 percent of the energy efficiency by outlining energy standards and requir-
total roof area (63,100 square feet), and met both the Energy
ing compliance to a strict energy code. The code recognizes
Star label requirements and the emissivity required by LEED. The
spray on material is water-based, low volatile organic compound that cool roof surfaces can save 15 percent of the electric-
that cures to form a seamless rubber membrane. Walker notes ity needed to cool a building and that cool roofs reduce urban
that the liquid coating “can be used over a variety of roof types — heat island effect and ambient air temperatures causing an
metal, modified bitumen, hypalon, BUR, wood, concrete, and PVC improvement in air quality.
— to reduce building temperatures.” [See photos on title page] A cool roof must be installed as part of prescriptive
compliance to the code, or an allowed tradeoff among the building

6 What’s So Cool About Cool Roofs?

envelope components may be substituted. The performance Color is made visible by light reflecting off a surface and into
method allows for the cool roof to set the energy budget for the our eyes; however, sunlight has other properties that extend beyond
proposed building. There are qualifications for conditioned and the visible portion we can see. We have an intuitive understanding
unconditioned spaces, but the main thrust of the regulations is of the power of certain colors to reflect light as well as absorb heat,
that roof materials must obtain a third-party product rating by e.g., black leather seats in a convertible will be uncomfortably hot
the Cool Roof Rating Councilvii, must be properly labeled and meet in the summer, and white clothing is a cooler choice at the beach.
the minimum specified reflectance and emittance values set by However, sunlight is composed of infrared and ultraviolet radiation,
the code. As of October 2005, Title 24 defines a cool roof for as well as the visible wavelengths (shown in graph above). In fact,
low-slope, non-residential buildings as having a minimum solar about half of the sun’s energy is infrared. “Cool color” roofing
reflectance of 0.70 and a minimum thermal emittance of 0.75. materials are created by integrating pigments that reflect infrared
As of August 2009, Title 24 includes a prescriptive requirement energy, even though their color may still absorb some of the visible
for steep-slope and residential buildings in certain California spectrum. In this way, roofing products can be both “cool” and dark
climate zones. colored. This type of infrared reflective pigment has been used in
conjunction with a variety of product types, including metal, tile,
City of Chicago coatings and asphalt shingle granules, thus broadening the scope
The City of Chicago is one of many cities who have begun to of cool roof applicability.
mandate cool roofs as a way to mitigate the urban heat island
effect. Chicago requires cool roofs in low-sloped roofing
applications. New roofs must meet the ENERGY STAR criteria for
reflective roofs.viii

Rebates and Tax Credits

Because of the importance of reducing our carbon footprint and
dependence on fossil fuels, there are numerous rebate programs
and tax credits offered for energy efficiency measures, including
cool roofing. Lists of rebate programs can be found online, as
well as through local utility companies and the California Energy
Commission.ix

DISPELLING MYTHS
Solar energy distribution graph illustrating that infrared radiation makes up a large portion of the
solar spectrum.
Cool Roofs Aren’t Just Flat and White: Saving (Graph courtesy of Berkeley Lab Heat Island Group.]
Energy from Tucson to Detroit, from L.A. to D.C.
Many designers believe that only white roofs meet the criteria
for cool roofs, that flat or low-sloped roofs are the only ones that A research project by the Lawrence Berkley National
benefit from the specification of a cool roofing material, and that a Laboratory assisted manufacturers with developing new colors
cool roof is only beneficial in hot climates. Researchers have creat- for cool roofing materials.x These new “cool color” products
ed a new pallet of roofing materials that combine the properties demonstrate that cool roofs don’t always have to be white in order
of color with reflective surface materials that challenge some of to reap the benefits of an energy-efficient roof. While the energy
the basic assumptions of what constitutes a cool roof. Numerous savings of a “cool” forest green roof will not be equivalent to that of
roofing materials are now rated with relatively high reflectance and a white or lighter colored roof, it will certainly deliver more energy
emittance values, including high profile products, colored products savings than its traditional non-cool forest green counterpart; this
and those applicable for steep sloped roofs. This provides more is the power of infrared reflective pigments.
choices for designers to employ aesthetic designs.
Cool Roofs in Cool Climates
Another myth that hounds cool roofs is the notion that they should
not be used in cold climates. However, there are several factors
that can make cooling energy savings outweigh heating penalties
in many cold climates. While more energy can be saved through
the use of cool roofs in hot climates than in cold climates, there
can still be advantages to specifying cool roofs in cooler climates,
especially where significant air-conditioning is needed in hot
summer months. In addition, it has become increasingly evident
Advancements in pigment technology increase solar reflectance across a broad spectrum. that urban heat islands exist in cool climates, and the summertime
(Photo courtesy of American Rooftile Coatings.)
benefits of installing a cool roof may outweigh the heating penalties

What’s So Cool About Cool Roofs? 7

 Continuing Education
during winter. The energy savings calculators developed by DOE Sustainable Design Research
and EPA, mentioned in the “Calculating Energy Savings” section of Laboratory, Ann Arbor, MI
this course, are great tools to help assess the effectiveness of a
cool roof in any climate.
As we all know first-hand, the sun is lower in the sky in the
winter than in it is in the summer; the further north one goes,
the lower it gets. Because of the shallow incoming angle, solar
rays have to travel through a thicker cross-section of atmosphere
during winter. As a result, the diffuse rays lose some of their
potency. Additional factors that reduce the potential for heat gain
A green retreat allowed the architect to test various types of cool roofs and sustainable
during winter are that the days are shorter and there are fewer
design strategies, including this sloped metal cool roof over the conference room.
sunny days. It is also fairly typical to see snow-covered roofs in (Photo courtesy of A3C Collaborative Architecture.)
climates where a heating penalty might be a concern; this condition
obviously negates any effect a roof’s reflectivity may have on heat In 2006, A3C Collaborative Architecture decided
to convert their offices into a learning lab for numerous
loss or gain.
environmental systems and products and created the UrbEn
Retreat, a rooftop meeting space that overlooks a demonstration
Temperature Studies: Cooler than What? cool and green roof.
Former Vice President, Al Gore, states that the planet has a The project covers several thermal studies of cool roof
fever. Studies have shown that cool roofs can be as much as sixty performance in South East Michigan. While several studies have
degrees cooler in surface temperature than non-cool roofs.xi A cool been done of other areas of the country, none have factored
roof can reduce the temperature of a building enough to reduce in the lake effect and weather conditions of Lower Michigan,
the energy load. When Dan Jacobs, AIA, LEED AP, principal of where there tend to be only three days of clear sky during
A3C Collaborative Architecture of Ann Arbor, Michigan, decid- December, January and February. The weather can typically be
described as cold, dark, grey and snowy. A3C is working with
ed to prove the advantages of a cool roof, he collaborated with
the University of Michigan Architecture School’s Sustainable
Professor Motaba Navvab, Ph.D. of the University of Michigan
Design Lab to assess the performance of cool roofs over a full
— Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning Sustain- year. While results are not yet fully compiled, the initial returns
able Design Research Laboratory to evaluate cool and green roof show that cool roofs provide a benefit to building owners in the
performance values. (See adjacent case study.) region by reducing rooftop thermal gain during the summer.
Measurements from the first day of summer and the
The Future Cool Roof hottest day of summer show that the white membrane cool roof
Continued research and development of cool roofing materials will provides an eighty percent reduction in heat transfer through
provide even more opportunities to mitigate urban heat islands, the roof as compared to the black EPDM roof, providing a
substantial benefit to the building owner (See figure below). Data
save energy, reduce CO2 emissions and improve air quality and
for the spring and fall months indicates that there is no heating
occupant comfort. Additionally, new products will emerge that
penalty, or heat loss through the roof, that can be directly
will broaden the range of applicability and client suitability. Cool attributed to the cool roof. Similarly, when the roof is covered
roofs may be one of the easiest and most effective energy savings with snow during the winter months, the data indicates that
measures to implement, in both new construction and existing there is a negligible and equal heat loss through the cool and
buildings, without compromising project design or performance. non-cool roof surfaces. Measurements from this study show
that cool roofs can not only be effective in cool climates, but are
EndNotes also applicable for both sloped and flat surface configurations.

i
http://eetd.lbl.gov/l2m2/cool.html
http://www.coolroofs.org/documents/IndirectBenefitsofCoolRoofs-WhyCRareWayCool.pdf
ii

http://eetd.lbl.gov/HeatIsland/CoolRoofs/
iii

http://www.swenergy.org/casestudies/arizona/tucson_topsc.htm
iv
v
http://www.coolroofs.org/codes_and_programs.html
The list of city or state building codes requiring cool roofs may change from the date this article


was written.
http://www.energycodes.gov/implement/pdfs/color_map_climate_zones_Mar03.pdf
vi

vii
http://www.energy.ca.gov/2005publications/CEC-400-2005-006/chapters_4q/3_Building_
Envelope.pdf (Section 3.4)
viii
http://www.energystar.gov/ia/partners/product_specs/eligibility/roofs_elig.pdf
http://www.consumerenergycenter.org/coolroof/faq.html#faqs-05
ix

x
http://eetdnews.lbl.gov/nl19/cool.htm
xi
http://www.energy.ca.gov/title24/coolroofs/

Co-written by Celeste Allen Novak, AIA, LEED AP and Sarah

Van Mantgem, Energy Consultant and Cool Roof Rating
Council Administrator

See Quiz on the Next Page

or Measurements throughout the day monitored cool roof performance.
Take the Quiz Free Online (Photo courtesy of A3C Collaborative Architecture.)

8 What’s So Cool About Cool Roofs?

 Continuing Education
This article also appears online at ce.greensourcemag.com

Program title: “What’s So Cool About Cool Roofs?” (03/09). AIA/CES Credit: This article will earn you one AIA/CES LU hour of health, safety, and welfare/
sustainable design (HSW/SD) credit. (Valid for credit through March 2011). Directions: Refer to the Learning Objectives for this program. Select one answer for each
question in the exam and fill in the box by the appropriate letter. A minimum score of 80% is required to earn credit. To take this test online and avoid handling charge,
go to ce.greensourcemag.com

1. Roofing materials that can be classified as “cool” are: 6. Aged testing, conducted by roof rating systems, documents weathering
o a. always white. effects for:
o b. only for flat roofs. o a. three years.
o c. limited to single-ply membranes. o b. four years.
o d. used on low and steep-sloped surfaces and can be a variety of colors. o c. five years.
o d. the warranty of the product.
2. A cool roof is characterized by which of the following radiative properties:
o a. solar reflectance and thermal resistance 7. The most reliable source for credible solar reflectance and thermal
o b. solar reflectance and thermal emittance emittance data for cool roofs is:
o c. solar reflectance and thermal conductance o a. product manufacturers’ websites.
o d. solar reflectance and thermal transmittance o b. independent roofing product ratings.
o c. product promotional materials.
3. Urban heat island effect is characterized by: o d. information from Industry trade associations.
o a. increased air temperature in cities due to absorbed heat.
o b. rising sea levels and changing weather patterns. 8. ENERGY STAR, Title 24, ASHRAE, LEED®, and Green Globes™ are codes
o c. increased smog formation and greenhouse gas emissions. and green building programs that include cool roof measures.
o d. a. and c. o a. True
o b. False
4. Buildings with lightly colored, more reflective roofs use up to 40 percent less
energy for cooling than buildings with traditional darker roofs. 9. According to California’s Title 24 code, cool roofs:
o a. True o a. can only be white coatings.
o b. False o b. must obtain a third-party product rating from the Cool Roof
Rating Council.
5. What are the primary values of independent third-party ratings for cool o c. can only be used on commercial buildings.
roofs? o d. may be ENERGY STAR rated.
o a. standardized, consistent test methods and credible test results
o b. products equally subjected to weatherization in key climates as well 10. In cool climates, a cool roof can be beneficial because:
as age-tested o a. urban heat islands exist in cool climates.
o c. products can be compared o b. many buildings require air-conditioning during the summer in
o d. all of the above cooler climate zones.
o c. the benefits may outweigh the heating penalties during winter months.
o d. all of the above.

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What’s So Cool About Cool Roofs? 9

Continuing Education

The Cool Roof Rating Council is a non-profit organization

that maintains a credible, third-party rating program for
measuring and labeling the radiative properties of roofing
products. The Council publishes these ratings via its online
directory as a public service for use by architects, code
officials, building owners and other interested parties.
www.coolroofs.org.

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10 What’s So Cool About Cool Roofs?