The International Roofing Expo (IRE) once again delivered a strong mix of education, networking, and industry dialogue, with more than 45 educational sessions across nine tracks covering topics ranging from general business strategy and workplace safety to single-ply systems, EPDM… Read More
- Advancing Earth and Space Sciences
- American School and University
- Architectural Roofing & Waterproofing Magazine
- Architectural West
- AS&HF
- Ashley Group
- Bloomberg News
- BOMA Magazine
- Builders Connection
- Building and Operating Management
- Building Enclosure
- Building Envelope
- Building Green
- Buildings
- Business Council for Sustainable Energy website
- Carolinas Roofing
- College Planning and Management
- Construction Drive
- Construction Specifier
- Continuing Education: BPN Media
- CSI
- Dodson Publication
- EcoStructure
- EDC Magazine
- ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH LETTERS
- EPDM Roofing Association
- EPDM Roofing Magazine
- ERA Staff
- FacilitiesNet
- Facility Executive
- Federal Emergency Management Agency
- Firestone Building Company
- Forbes
- Geophysical Research Letters
- Green Building Report
- Green Source Magazine
- Huffington Post
- IIBEC
- Interface
- International Symposium on Roofing
- Journal of Climate
- Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
- Maintenance Solutions
- Miller McCune Magazine
- National Institute of Building Sciences
- Net Zero Buildings
- New York Real Estate Journal
- Oak Ridge National Laboratory
- Philadelphia Inquirer
- Phys.org
- PNAS
- Post and Courier Newspaper
- Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
- Professional Roofing
- RCI
- RCI Interface Magazine
- Replacement Contractor
- Retrofit Magazine
- Ribber & Plastics News
- Roofing and Renovations
- Roofing Contractor
- Roofing Magazine
- Roofing Reconsidered
- RSI Extra
- RSI Magazine
- Rubber and Plastics News
- Rubber News
- Rubber Waterproofing Association
- Rubbers and Plastics
- School Planning & Management
- School Planning and Management
- Single-Ply
- Smart Cities Dive
- Solar Energy Industries Association
- Solar Power World
- SPRI
- SPRI and Oak Ridge National Laboratory
- Tech Today
- Tegnos
- Today's Facility Manager
- USA Today
- Washington Examiner
- Western Roofing
- Western Roofing Contractors Association Website
ERA Staff
Solar Ready EPDM Roofs
Presented at the International Roofing Expo in January 2026. Solar-Ready Roofs: How to Turn Roofs into Revenue As rooftop solar demand continues to grow, roofing contractors are uniquely positioned to lead these projects when they understand what solar-ready truly requires…. Read More
Technical Bulletin #104: Roof Color and Reflectivity
EPDM roofing delivers proven, science-based performance that goes beyond the outdated “black vs. white roof” debate. As modern building codes require significantly higher insulation levels, research consistently shows that insulation, not surface reflectivity, is the primary driver of energy efficiency in many U.S. climates, particularly ASHRAE Climate Zones 4–8. Multiple recent studies, including work by Harvard and ICF, find no consistent link between highly reflective white roof mandates and urban heat island reduction, while highlighting potential downsides such as increased heating demand, moisture risks, and unintended climate impacts. EPDM has a long track record of stable performance in real-world conditions where durability, insulation, and lifecycle outcomes matter most.
With an average service life of approximately 38 years, EPDM roofing systems significantly outperform many highly reflective membranes, reducing replacement frequency, embodied carbon, and total cost of ownership. EPDM offers exceptional durability, ease of repair, and compatibility with solar installations and vegetative roofs, making it a reliable foundation for long-term sustainability strategies. For building owners seeking a low-risk, resilient roofing solution backed by current research, EPDM provides consistent energy performance, avoids hidden moisture concerns, and supports long-term asset planning across a wide range of climates.
Research Recap: Green and Cool Roofs to Mitigate Urban Heat Island Effects in the Chicago Metropolitan Area (aka the Notre Dame study)
Study Overview The 2016 study Green and Cool Roofs to Mitigate Urban Heat Island Effects in the Chicago Metropolitan Area evaluated how widespread adoption of green and cool roofs influences urban climate dynamics beyond surface temperature. Conducted by researchers at… Read More
Research Recap: Interaction of Urban Heat Islands and Heat Waves Under Current and Future Climate Conditions and Their Mitigation Using Green and Cool Roofs
Study Overview The 2019 study Interaction of Urban Heat Islands and Heat Waves Under Current and Future Climate Conditions and Their Mitigation Using Green and Cool Roofs evaluated rooftop mitigation strategies in two distinct urban climates, New York City and… Read More
Holistic Roof System Design and Sustainable Roofing Assemblies (formerly known as black roofs vs white roofs)
Although the discussion over roof color has shifted toward holistic roof system design and sustainable assemblies, the older “black vs. white” framing still shapes policy and perception. Revisiting these simplistic arguments helps explain why some stakeholders maintain this view, despite… Read More
Research Recap: Unexpected Warming from Land Radiative Management aka “the Harvard study”
Study Overview The 2024 Harvard-led study, Unexpected Warming from Land Radiative Management, examined the broader climatic effects of large-scale deployment of highly reflective surfaces, including cool roofs and pavements. Published in Geophysical Research Letters, the research used climate modeling to… Read More
Research Recap: Revisiting Older Roofing Research, With Context
Research Recap Research does not stop being relevant simply because it is no longer new. In building science, some studies continue to inform practice years later, while others are cited so often that their original nuance is gradually lost. Over… Read More
Industry Survey on Re-Roofing Business Activity Needs Info from Contractors and Consultants
A leading coalition of roofing associations is continuing the Quarterly Market Index Surveys, designed to provide a barometer of the industry’s business conditions. The one-of-a-kind poll follows a successful effort that started in 2021, drawing on the views of contractors… Read More
ERA Publishes Guide to Sustainable Roofing Systems
Report Details Impact of Roof Albedo on Urban Heat Islands and Energy Efficiency Washington, D.C., March 8, 2024 – The EPDM Roofing Association (ERA) is publishing “The View From the Roof: Building a Sustainable Future”, a comprehensive guide to… Read More