Reflective Roof Coatings
DOE- Coatings
The sun's energy inevitably finds its way into the buildings on which it falls. In the summertime, this unwanted heat energy makes buildings hot and requires more air conditioning. Since the summertime sun rises high in the sky, the sun's radiant energy falls mainly on the roof, with east and west walls of buildings also receiving a significant share.
One of the simplest ways to keep solar heat out of buildings is to use reflective roofing materials. Then, the sun's radiant energy is simply reflected back toward the sky from which it came. In fact, reflective materials also help keep the building's environment (i.e., the city) cool, by reflecting solar energy back out into space, thereby reducing the heat island effect. The Cool Roofing Materials Database provides information about the reflective properties of different roofing materials.
DOE- Coatings |
| |
|
