Atlanta is the latest US city to mandate “cool roof” treatments in new buildings, Matt Simon reports in a story of Grist, which was reissued in the next city. Requiring a reflective roof is “a simple, relatively inexpensive and effective way to save people from extreme heat,” and improves the energy efficiency of a building.
Other city ordinances apply only to flat roofs, but new Atlanta laws apply to all new constructions (not existing buildings). “Smart Surface Coalition – a nonprofit that works with cities to enact cool roofing ordinances – Atlanta’s new building code estimates that it will cool 2.4 degrees Fahrenheit at peak summer temperatures and 6.3 degrees Fahrenheit as much as 2.4 degrees Fahrenheit in the city’s hottest regions.” The move could result in $310 million in energy savings over 35 years.
Simon points out that cool roof treatments continue to work on their own, with little maintenance and can cost even more than traditional roofs. “They also extend the life of the roof as there is less wear and tear on the material that expands in the heat, which shrinks when it cools.” Cool buildings reduce the need for air conditioning, blow hot air outside the home, and increase energy costs. “And if the grid goes down because too many people are running AC and other appliances at once, everyone is at a much higher risk.”
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