Lets start by covering what a cool roof is. Simply, a light or white colored surface on the roof. The reflective properties bounce heat back toward the sun reducing the need for cooling below. Less cooling demand reduces energy use and related pollution. Another factor is the warming effect on climate which is also reduced.

When the suns rays heat an object, there is a transition from the full spectrum light to infrared. The infrared, we typically refer to as radiant heat in laymans terms, is easily trapped by carbon dioxide. By reflecting more of the light before it heats up the roof, there is less radiant trapable heat. This means cool roofs help cut the warming effect too.

The US Department of Energy is already moving to put cool roofs on all of their buildings. This is a low cost and effective way to have an impact. To read more about the DOE plans, click_here.

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