Cool Roofing & Energy Efficiency

A fully-adhered membrane will prevent fluttering and minimize energy loss. Photos: Hutchinson Design Group Several millennia ago, early man — and the wife and kids — decided that life in a cave was a little dark, damp and confining, and… Read More

The South Coast Air Basin of California, a region of 16.8 million people, is among the most polluted air basins in the United States. A multidecadal effort to attain federal air-quality standards has led to significant progress, but much more… Read More

The growing awareness of climate change, as well as the related issues of urban heat islands and steadily increasing energy costs, has led to a growing interest in the effectiveness of reflective, or “cool” roofing. As manufacturers of both black and… Read More

Retrofit Magazine has featured the ERA supported Weinberg Commons low income housing development in Washington, D.C. The development was one of the first low income development projects in the United States to be built to passive house standards. According to… Read More

During the last decade, the roofing industry has been increasingly impacted by two strong forces: first, rising energy prices with no real end in sight, and, second, increasingly stringent building codes and regulations designed to limit emissions, reduce energy use… Read More

Although many municipalities, including Philadelphia, require white roofs as part of their green building codes or incentive programs, a white roof may not be decreasing carbon dioxide emissions as intended.

“A coalition of trade groups is funding a research project about advanced roofing systems that were installed on an upstate New York correctional facility to evaluate the benefits of thermal insulation and cool roofing in Northern climates. The Asphalt Roofing… Read More

“In order to select the best roofing materials, facility managers must consider components that meet the needs of building design, location, and climate conditions.” Read the full article here

“An overall reaction against one-size-fits-all prescriptions also seemed to be a factor. ‘We are restricting the options of roof designers, architects, and building owners with these policies,’ ERA’s Ellen Thorp told EBN, referring to regulations that require cool roofs. Those… Read More

“BETHESDA, Md.—The EPDM Roofing Association is challenging a study conducted by Lawrence Berkley National Laboratory, which recommends policy makers phase out black EPDM roof membranes because they pose a public health risk.” Also from the article: “Most ERA members manufacture… Read More