5 Star Roofing Contractors That Specializing In Commercial Roofs
Friday, February 28, 2014
The Emergence of Cool Roofs
Cool roofing is not a new concept. In the mid-1980s, researchers at DOE national laboratories in Tennessee and California were measuring the energy-saving benefits of “solar radiation control coatings” on test roofs. Although energy savings were confirmed in these early studies, they were not sufficient to lead roofing designers and installers to switch away from traditional dark-colored roofing systems.
A parallel effort was launched to determine the influence of light-colored roofing products on summer urban heat islands. This research demonstrated that solar reflective roofs, solar reflective pavements, and vegetation could lower urban air temperatures, saving additional energy and improving air quality.
Rolling blackouts during the summer of 2001 motivated California’s public utilities to expand the scope of their peak load management programs. They found that cool roofing reduces peak demand for electricity, helping to lower costs and avoid power outages. Twenty years after DOE initiated its work on cool roofs, these products dominate the commercial roofing marketplace in warm and hot climates, partly because the State of California changed its energy code to prescribe cool roofing for most commercial buildings with low-sloped roofs.
Today, both white and “cool color” products are available for low-slope and steep-slope roofs.
Roofing for residential buildings need not be white; cool colors are available for a number of roofing materials.
A parallel effort was launched to determine the influence of light-colored roofing products on summer urban heat islands. This research demonstrated that solar reflective roofs, solar reflective pavements, and vegetation could lower urban air temperatures, saving additional energy and improving air quality.
Rolling blackouts during the summer of 2001 motivated California’s public utilities to expand the scope of their peak load management programs. They found that cool roofing reduces peak demand for electricity, helping to lower costs and avoid power outages. Twenty years after DOE initiated its work on cool roofs, these products dominate the commercial roofing marketplace in warm and hot climates, partly because the State of California changed its energy code to prescribe cool roofing for most commercial buildings with low-sloped roofs.
Today, both white and “cool color” products are available for low-slope and steep-slope roofs.
Roofing for residential buildings need not be white; cool colors are available for a number of roofing materials.
Thanks to the reflective nature of the Cool Series Shingles, part of the heat radiating from the sun gets reflected, reducing the heat in the attic, and heat going into the house. It may translate into substantial savings on air conditioning bills.
Cool roofs may save residents an avg. 7-15%** of total cooling costs, depending on geography, structure, and climate. In warmer climates, cooling-cost savings may be greater year round.
A cool roof minimizes the solar heat gain of a building by first reflecting incoming sun rays and then by quickly re-emitting the remaining absorbed portion. As a result, the cool roof stays cooler than a traditional roof of similar construction.
Friday, February 21, 2014
TPO Roofing Systems
Thermoplastic polyolefin (TPO) single-ply roofing membranes are among the fastest growing commercial roofing products and have gained broad industry acceptance for their many performance and installation advantages. As demand increases for heat-reflective and energy efficient roofing systems, TPO single-ply roofing membranes continue to provide exceptional resistance to ultraviolet, ozone and chemical exposure.
Suitable for a variety of low-slope commercial roofing applications, Firestone UltraPly™ TPO roofing membrane is a sustainable roofing solution for a wide range of building types. UltraPly TPO membrane also offers design options with panels available in reflective white, tan or gray, which can help reduce a building’s cooling requirements. White and tan UltraPly TPO membranes meet the new version of the California Energy Efficiency Standards for Residential and Nonresidential Buildings (Title 24). These standards define cool roofs in California to have a minimum three-year aged reflectance of 0.55 and a minimum thermal emittance of 0.75 for low-sloped nonresidential buildings.
White and tan UltraPly TPO membranes are listed with the Cool Roof Rating Council (CRRC), and meet or exceed the new Title 24 requirements for low-slope roofing membranes. The listing for white and tan UltraPly TPO membranes can be found on the Cool Roof Rating Council (CRRC) web site.
The flexible, hot-air welded membrane is available in 8′, 10′ and 12′ widths and thicknesses of .045″, .060″ and .080″.
White and tan UltraPly TPO membranes are listed with the Cool Roof Rating Council (CRRC), and meet or exceed the new Title 24 requirements for low-slope roofing membranes. The listing for white and tan UltraPly TPO membranes can be found on the Cool Roof Rating Council (CRRC) web site.
The flexible, hot-air welded membrane is available in 8′, 10′ and 12′ widths and thicknesses of .045″, .060″ and .080″.
Thursday, February 20, 2014
White roofs, aka cool roofs
White roofs, aka cool roofs, are a “hot” topic these days as a means to help stem global warming. Most of us know better than to wear black on a hot day, but when it comes to the roofs on our houses, the temperature often takes a back seat to aesthetics. Dark roofs mean higher air conditioning bills, and higher carbon dioxide emissions as a result. The good news is you can save money and help protect the planet by lightening the color (and therefore the temperature) of your roof, or by switching to a white roof the next time your house needs a new hat.
The Benefits of a White Roof
Switching to a white roof can actually reduce energy use by about 20 percent in hot, sunny weather, according to the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory Heat Island Group in Berkeley, Calif. Hashem Akbari, the Heat Island Group’s lead scientist and a professor of Building, Civil and Environmental Engineering at Concordia University in Montreal, says that transitioning to reflective roofing and pavements in the world’s urban areas would offset the equivalent of emissions from the planet’s 600 million cars for the next 18 years. A 1,000-square-foot cool roof saves air conditioning use that otherwise would emit about half a ton of carbon dioxide per year. (The average total square footage of a home in the United States is more than 2,000. In urban areas, white roofs also help lower smog levels by lowering local temperatures, which tend to be higher due to the large proportion of paved surfaces.
Critics have suggested white roofs do more harm than good in colder climates. But research shows that the heating benefits of a dark roof in the winter are negligible because the days are shorter, the skies are cloudier, the angle of the sun is low, and sometimes roofs are covered in snow. “The amount of heat savings you may lose in the winter would be, at the maximum, 30 percent of the summertime savings,” Akbari says. “If you need cooling in the summer and heating in the winter, no matter where you are, a white roof will most likely save you money.”
Cool New Roof Options
“Cool” is the buzzword that encompasses a range of roofing materials that can reduce carbon footprints. And cool roofs come in a variety of light colors.The best time to install a cool roof is when a new roof is needed or major roof maintenance is in order. According to researchers, there’s little difference between the cost of roof colors.
Not ready for a new roof but still want to cool down? Install a white roof coating instead. There are a number of coatings that will substantially improve an existing roof’s reflectance/emittance. Plus, coatings protect and seal, potentially extending the life of your roof. The installed cost of coating a roof is about $01.50 to $2.50 per square foot, according to Akbari, which will be paid back by lower energy bills and the extended life of your roof.
Roof Resources
A cool roof is measured by two properties: reflectance (the ability of the product to reflect energy away from the roof) and thermal emittance (the roof’s ability to radiate absorbed heat). Ideally, you want your roof to be high in both.
The Heat Island Group has developed a Solar Reflectance Index (SRI) to rate cool roofs. You can browse the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory's Cool Roofing Materials Database for information about a product you’re considering. The Heat Island Group says an SRI rating of 30 percent or higher for sloped roofs (70 percent or higher for flat roofs) can reduce utility bills. The Cool Roof Rating Council also offers a product directory; just click on “Rated Products Directory.”
Federal and state rebates are available; check the Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency for details specific to your project. Also call your utility company to check for local programs. “This will not be the silver bullet that solves the global warming problem,” Akbari says. “But it cools your home, cools your community and helps cool the globe while putting money in your pocket.”
By Amanda Kimble-Evans
February/March 2010
Wednesday, February 19, 2014
Monday, February 17, 2014
Tuesday, February 11, 2014
Don't let your roof leak
http://specialsections.suntimes.com/homes/7637878-555/roof-leaks-can-lead-to-big-problems.html
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