Why Does An Energy Efficient Roof Make Such A Big Difference For A Building?
Cool reflective roofs primarily do two good things, they increase solar reflectance and emittance. This extends the life of the roof and lowers Peak Energy Demand.
Energy efficiency is key, and that’s a hot topic these days with energy crisis and energy issues worldwide. But it’s also the energy efficiency and the reflectivity of the roof membrane itself. There’s just no question that a roof membrane lasts longer if it’s got a reflective surface. It doesn’t have to do as much work.
For example, on an 85-degree day, the surface temperature of a roof can get up to a hundred seventy degrees depending on direction of and how long it’s exposed to the sun. That membrane heats up and expands during the day and then contracts at night.
This reaction is called thermal cycling, the movement of a roof membrane from the heat of the day to the coldest part of the morning. That’s the expansion and contraction of the membrane. That’s what damages the roof membrane, seams, edge details, and penetrations. When you can stop the thermal cycling by installing a “cool” reflective coating or membrane it’s going to benefit every existing roof surface, whether it’s BUR, Single ply, metal, etc.
The roof life cycle is important as it saves the building owner money by not having to re-roof as often. That was always the early goal of why Western Colloid focused on reflectivity, naturally phasing into being a solution when the energy crisis started developing. Most Western Colloid roof system specifications, if not all specifications, for the past 50 years have included reflective roof surfaces.
All commercial roofing manufacturers have come to the realization that we need cool reflective roofs.
When the State of California, who leads the pack for the nation in restrictive energy laws and building requirements started their tests back in 2003, they found that the buildings that had reflective surfaces were saving in the range of 15 to 30% during peak energy demand.
Cool Roofs are a great option for structures without air conditioning.
Another great point to mention, besides all the talk about air conditioning and saving the energy used to cool the building, is the use of cool roofs for non-air-conditioned buildings. One of the first studies that the State of California did was a home improvement warehouse in central California. That retail warehouse got so hot during the summer that they had to close early in the afternoons. It became too uncomfortable, and the temperature exceeded what they could permit the public to shop in. They ended up putting on just a good acrylic reflective coating on that roof. That one action changed the temperature of that building so it could remain open during regular hours.
There was a book binding facility in Los Angeles that had a tan-brown colored cap sheet roof on it. In the summertime they would close early on the hot summer days because it was just too hot to work in the warehouse. They used a Western Colloid system with our 720 ElastaHyde white acrylic top coat, and it resolved their temperature problem. The bindery could work all the hours they needed.
Also notable was a big spice company that stored spices in bulk. Most spices you buy are stored for two years to four years before packaging. In normal conditions they have a pretty good shelf life, but the shelf life was dropped by years from the excessive heat in the warehouse. Until they put on one of our cool roof systems over the warehouse, they were going to have to install expensive air conditioning. Since they put the cool roofs on the buildings temperature profile of those buildings dropped considerably.
There are a lot of reasons to put a cool roof on besides just saving the energy directly in the building. It’s the comfort level of the employees that work inside those facilities or even the animals housed in stables or dairy farms. Our local Sheriff’s department stables had tan coated metal roofs. A contractor installed a Western Colloid specification for metal roofs and made a big impact on the comfort level for their horses.
Not just a cool roof surface, think about getting an entire roof system for your building.
A final recommendation, if you’re going to spend the money on a reflective coating to save energy, save the membrane of the roof, or whatever your reason is, most of cost of any system is going to be that reflective topcoat. Spend a little more and update your entire roof with a Western Colloid reinforced system. You will get a Sustainable, Renewable roof with superior waterproofing and tensile strength, plus a renewable warranty.
Almost every roof is a great candidate for a reflective roof system. With over 50 years of experience, we love offering information about all the issues related to cool roof restoration. Please contact Western Colloid for a solution that surely will meet your needs.
