Cool Roofing & Energy Efficiency

Although an overall world population increase of 2.3 billion is projected by 2050 relative to 2011, urban growth is estimated at 2.6 billion, as urban complexes, in addition to absorbing all of the world’s additional inhabitants, are expected to draw… Read More

“More roof insulation generally is a good thing but there is a point of diminishing returns. Rooftop Solar systems generally are good things provided they meet mind and fire requirements and are installed to protect the roof systems integrity. And… Read More

These results suggest that increasing the albedo of roofs is an effective way of reducing the urban heat island. The degree to which the heat island decreases depends on the importance of roofs relative to the rest of the urban… Read More

Phil Degger is a professional engineer, registered roof consultant, author, and Fellow of the Roof Consultants Institute. He has investigated problems and provided testimony regarding virtually all types of roof and waterproofing systems since the early 1980’s.  

With each passing year the green building movement continues to escalate within the commercial construction market, putting energy-efficient roof technologies at the forefront.

“It’s not so unusual. Right after the first couple sunny spring days you get a call. The owner complains his roof is leaking but it hasn’t rained for a week. You investigate. It is not a roof leak. It is… Read More

The San Mateo Union High School District (SMUHSD) oversees seven public high school facilities just outside of San Francisco, Calif. In an effort to lower its $1.1 million annual electricity bill, the district sought to install photovoltaic (PV) panels on… Read More

Onondaga County sought to evaluate the energy and water retention performance of green or vegetative roofing systems relative to other conventional and energy-efficient roofing systems. A major roof replacement project on multiple buildings at the Jamesville Correctional Facility offered the… Read More

This paper described results from two sets of 20-yr global simulations under different model conditions to examine (i) the effects of urban surfaces (roofs and impervious ground surfaces, termed roads) and (ii) converting roofs to white roofs on global climate…. Read More

During a recent visit to Penn State University, University Park, Pa., President Obama introduces the Better Buildings Initiative – a multipronged effort designed to make commercial buildings 20 percent more energy-efficient during the next decade.