Con Edison, Mayor Bloomberg’s office, and the Community Environmental Center (CEC) have partnered to develop the NYC Cool Roofs program to paint black tar roofs with cool reflective white coatings, which will reflect the sun’s rays and cool buildings.
Cool Roofs Program
According to the CEC, hot dark surfaces in New York City (like asphalt roads and roofs) are responsible for a 5-7 degrees temperature difference between the City and surrounding areas. Built up areas that experience these temperature discrepancies are experiencing what is known as the Urban Heat Island Effect.
Heat Islands are created when once moist and vegetative land is replaced with infrastructure creating impermeable, dry surfaces; the sun heats these surfaces and surrounding surfaces to create an “island” of hot temperatures. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the variation of surface and atmospheric temperatures vary greatly depending on land use. Even a few degree difference can have a significant impact on energy costs, pollution, and heat related illness.
A simple and cost effective solution to combat the heat island effect is to coat building roofs with light-colored paints to maximize solar reflection and minimize heat gain. According to the CEC, coating dark roofs with white reflective paint could lower the summertime temperature of the entire city by 1 degree.
Since the majority of cooling comes from electric air conditioners in NYC, lowering the ambient temperature by 1 degree would save NYC tenants $100 million every cooling season.
Benefits of Cool Roofs
The Cool Roofs program aims at reducing artificially high temperatures and mitigating some of the negative externalities of urban heat island effect identified by the EPA:
• Decreased energy consumption: Higher temperatures in summer increase energy demand for cooling and add pressure to the electricity grid during peak periods of demand. One study estimates that the heat island effect is responsible for 5–10% of peak electricity demand for cooling buildings in cities.
• Reduction in emissions of air pollutants and greenhouse gases: Increasing energy demand generally results in greater emissions of air pollutants and greenhouse gas emissions from power plants. Higher air temperatures also promote the formation of ground-level ozone.
• Improvement of human health and comfort: Warmer days and nights, along with higher air pollution levels, can contribute to general discomfort, respiratory difficulties, heat cramps and exhaustion, non-fatal heat stroke, and heat-related mortality.
• Improved water quality: Hot pavement and rooftop surfaces transfer their excess heat to storm water, which then drains into storm sewers and raises water temperatures as it is released into streams, rivers, ponds, and lakes. Rapid temperature changes can be stressful to aquatic ecosystems.
Government and Affordable Housing
Currently the Cool Roofs program is targeted to Not for Profit and Affordable Housing buildings. To sign up a building to be considered for this service contact the CEC at (718) 725-8925. If the building is eligible, it will be added to a waiting list and volunteers will come out over a three day period to clean, prep, and coat the roof, free of charge.
Condominiums and Cooperatives
For Condo or Cooperative buildings, the Cool Roofs program offers a “do it yourself” guide to coating a roof. Often Coops and Condos hire professional roofing contractors expedite the process, ensure quality workmanship, and supervise the preparation and clean up portion of work. EIS offers roof consultations as part of our energy conservations and sustainability services.