Energy Efficiency
Energy Efficiency Delivered by “Cool Roof” Reflectivity
A
high-performance roof can be a powerful asset in reducing energy
consumption and improving long-term energy efficiency. When used with
appropriate insulation on low-sloped or flat roofs, a
high-reflectivity, high-emissivity Duro-Last Cool Zone system can:
- Reduce building energy consumption by up to 40 percent
- Improve insulation performance to reduce winter heat loss and summer heat gain
- Preserve the efficiency of rooftop air conditioning
- Potentially reduce HVAC capacity requirements
- Decrease the effects of Urban Heat Islands and related urban air pollution
The Duro-Last Cool Zone roofing system exceeds “cool roofing” standards established by these organizations:
- The
EPA’s ENERGY STAR® Roof Products Program has established a minimum
standard that requires low-slope roof products to have an initial
reflectance of at least 65 percent, and a reflectance of at least 50
percent after three years of weathering. If there is any doubt about
whether a roofing system is “cool” or energy efficient, check to see if
it is listed in the ENERGY STAR Roof Products listings – www.energystar.gov. Use their online calculator to determine potential energy savings for your building.
- The
Cool Roof Rating Council (CRRC) is a non-profit association that
implements and promotes fair, accurate performance ratings for solar
reflectance and emittance from roof surfaces. All tests for measuring
cool roof properties are performed by accredited, independent
laboratories following established ASTM International protocols.
Performance data for products from numerous manufacturers can be found
on the CRRC’s web site, www.coolroofs.org.
- Title
24 of California’s Energy Efficiency Standards for Residential and
Nonresidential Buildings is a wide-ranging “green” construction bill
that became effective in October, 2005. Title 24 specifies that new and
replacement commercial roofs – virtually any low-slope roofing project
that requires a construction permit – must have a minimum initial
thermal emittance of 75 percent, and a minimum initial solar
reflectance of 70 percent, as rated by the Cool Roof Rating Council. http://www.energy.ca.gov/title24/
Other Energy Considerations:
- The
American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning
Engineers (ASHRAE) established Standard 90.1 as a minimum requirement
for energy-efficient building design. President Bush has signed
legislation offering tax deductions to buildings that exceed the 90.1
Standard.
- Lawrence Berkeley National
Laboratory recently determined that increasing the R-value of a roofing
system in Los Angeles from R-9 to R-15 would reduce annual energy costs
by $2,500 and lower carbon dioxide emissions by thousands of pounds.
- Executive
Order 13123, now known as Federal Acquisition Regulation Case 1999-011,
mandates that federal office buildings must reduce energy usage 30% by
2005, and 35% by 2010. It also mandates that federal industrial
buildings and laboratories must reduce energy consumption 20% by 2005,
and 25% by 2010. Federal agencies also must use ENERGY STAR products
when available, and decisions must be based on energy and life-cycle
cost analyses.
- In cooperation with state and
local governments, many utility companies offer rebates for using
reflective roofing systems. These rebate programs are offered
nationwide, not just in southern climates. For instance, Excel Power,
the fourth largest utility company in the United States, has awarded
rebates as far north as Minnesota.
- Energy efficiency also reduces pollution by mitigating the urban heat island effect (see http://eandE.LBL.gov/heatisland).
