In simple terms, cool roofs work by reflecting the sun's rays back into space, rather than absorbing them. This can be achieved through a variety of means, including using reflective coatings, painting the roof white, or even using specially designed roofing materials that are specifically designed for this purpose. By reflecting the heat back into space, cool roofs can help to reduce the amount of energy needed to cool buildings, thus reducing energy bills and lowering greenhouse gas emissions.
Moreover, cool roofs can also help to reduce the "urban heat island effect," which is a phenomenon where cities are significantly hotter than their surrounding rural areas. This can be particularly dangerous during heatwaves, when hundreds of people die each year from heat exhaustion and related illnesses. By reflecting heat away from buildings, cool roofs can help to mitigate this effect, thus saving lives and improving the overall health of city residents.
The potential impact of cool roofs is huge. According to one study, if cool roofs were widely adopted in cities across North America, it could offset the equivalent of the world's total annual greenhouse gas emissions. This would be a major boost in the fight against climate change, and could help to reduce the risks of catastrophic global warming.
So why aren't more commercial building owners and facility managers adopting this technology? One reason might be cost - installing a cool roof can be more expensive than a traditional roof.
However, the long-term savings in energy bills and improved health and wellbeing of building occupants could more than make up for this initial outlay. Additionally, there are a number of financial incentives in place to encourage the adoption of cool roofs, such as tax credits, grants, and rebates.
In conclusion, cool technology commercial roofs represent an exciting new way to reduce our carbon footprint, save energy, and improve public health. Although there are some initial costs involved in adopting this technology, the long-term benefits are clear. As facility managers and commercial building owners, it's up to us to take the lead in adopting cool roofing technology, and to help pave the way towards a more sustainable, healthier future for all.
For more information, contact Matt Bade of Bade Roofing at 314-892-1331 or visit baderoofing.com.
Bade Roofing Company. Founded in 1954, Bade Roofing Company, Inc. is one of St. Louis, Missouri's premier family-owned and operated commercial and industrial roofing specialists. Bade Roofing installs roofing systems on major retail centers, grocery stores, hospitals, schools, warehouses and office buildings. www.baderoofing.com
