A horizontal surface receives about 1000 watts of sunlight per square meter at noon on a clear summer day. Typical dark roofs absorb this sunlight, heating the building below and the surrounding air. This makes the building less comfortable and increases its energy use. Hot dark roofs also make urban heat islands worse. Fortunately, as a roofing expert, we can install cool roofs that will solve this problem.
How do cool roofs work?
A cool roof reflects and emits the sun’s heat back to the sky, keeping the building cool. Experts express a roof’s coolness using two properties: thermal emittance and solar reflectance. Thermal emittance is the relative ability of the roof surface to radiate absorbed heat. Solar reflectance, on the other hand, is the fraction of solar energy reflected by the roof. Take note that thermal emittance is independent of solar reflectance.
What are its benefits?
Choosing a cool roof for your commercial roofing system has many benefits. Cool roofs reduce the thermal radiation of heat into the atmosphere, convection of heat into outside air, and the conduction of heat into the building. This lowers urban air temperatures and mitigates the urban heat island effect. It also slows the formation of ground level ozone and smog. Cool roofs can also provide significant energy and cost savings during the hot summer months.
Since cool roofs reduce cooling energy demand in your buildings, they also reduce the emissions of power plants. This decreases greenhouse gases and other air pollutants, resulting in better air quality and slowed climate change. Diminished demand for cooling energy also reduces electrical grid strain. Lastly, cool roofs can also lower indoor air temperature. This leads to improved indoor comfort, promoting occupant health and productivity.
Hinkle Roofing is one of the most experienced roofers in the area. With over a century of experience, we can provide you with high quality roofing services. We can evaluate your home’s location and weather, and recommend the best cool roof solution for your needs. We serve many communities, including Calera, Hoover, and Jasper. Call us at (205) 352-1940 to learn more about our cool roofs. You can also request for a free estimate.
