A cool roof is a roofing system that delivers higher solar reflectance (the ability to reflect the visible, infrared and ultraviolet wavelengths of the sun, reducing heat transfer to the building) and higher thermal emittance (the ability to radiate absorbed, or non-reflected solar energy) than standard designed roofing products. Historically, cool roofs have been either white or some other lighter shade color. However, that dynamic has changed in recent years with the development of residential cool roof products like Landmark Solaris® and Presidential Solaris® from CertainTeed that offer solar reflectivity even in dark, rich hues.
Cool roofs can also enhance roof durability and reduce both building cooling loads and the urban heat island effect.
How it Works
Most of the roofs in the world (including over 90% of the roofs in the United States) are dark-colored. In the heat of the full sun, the surface of a black roof can increase in temperature by more than 100 °F over the ambient temperature, reaching temperatures up to 190 °F. This increase in surface temperature can contribute to:
- Increased cooling energy use and higher utility bills;
- Reduced indoor comfort;
- Accelerated deterioration of roofing materials, increased roof maintenance costs, and high levels of roofing waste sent to landfills.
- Higher peak electricity demand (the maximum energy load an electric utility experiences to supply customers instantaneously, generally experienced in summer late afternoons as businesses and residences turn up their air conditioners), raised electricity production costs, and a potentially overburdened power grid;
- Increased air pollution due to the intensification of the "heat island effect"
Any building with a dark colored roof will consume more energy for air conditioning than a “cooler” building – a strain on both operating costs and the electric power grid. Cool roof products such as Landmark Solaris shingles, Presidential Solaris shingles, and Cool Star commercial cool roofing products from CertainTeed offer both immediate and long-term savings in building energy costs. The EPA reports that cool roofs can:
- Reduce energy use: A cool roof transfers less heat to the building below, so the building stays cooler and uses less energy for air conditioning.
- Reduce air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions: By lowering energy use, cool roofs decrease the production of associated air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.
- Improve human health and comfort: Cool roofs can reduce air temperatures inside buildings with and without air conditioning, helping to prevent heat-related illnesses and deaths.
CertainTeed’s Landmark Solaris® and Presidential Solaris® shingles are prime examples of residential cool roofing products that provide an enhanced aesthetic appeal.
Additional Resources:
Cool Roof: Basics and Benefits
Tips for Choosing a Cool Roof Material
