Why Use Cool Roofs

A cool roof can be desirable to a building owner for several reasons. Cool roofs can

• reduce energy bills by decreasing air conditioning needs,
• improve indoor thermal comfort for spaces that are not air conditioned, and
• decrease roof operating temperature, which may extend roof service life.

In many cases, cool roofs cost about the same as non-cool alternatives. The energy cost savings you can realize from a cool roof depends on many factors, including local climate; the amount of insulation in your roof; how your building is used; energy prices; and the type and efficiency of your heating and cooling systems.

Cool roofs can also benefit the environment, and policymakers may issue cool roof regulations to provide these benefits to society. Cool roofs can

• reduce local air temperatures, which improves air quality and slows smog formation;
• reduce peak electric power demand, which can help prevent power outages;
• reduce power plant emissions, including carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrous oxides, and mercury, by reducing cooling energy use in buildings; and
• reduce heat trapped in the atmosphere by reflecting more sunlight back into space, which can slow climate change.