Lately, I've been hearing a lot about cool roof technologies, so
I welcomed the chance to learn more at a recent seminar. Cool
roofs, also referred to as white roofs, have special coatings
that reflect sunlight and emit heat more efficiently than
traditional roofs, keeping them cooler in the sun. Cool roofing
technologies can be implemented quickly and at a relatively low
cost, making it the fastest growing sector of the building
industry. U.S. Department of Energy Secretary Steven Chu is
among the many cool roof enthusiasts. The Secretary recently
announced plans to install cool roofs at all DOE buildings when
constructing new roofs or replacing old ones. According to
ENERGY STAR®, Americans spend about $40 Billion annually to air
condition buildings. Traditional roofs absorb 90% or more of
incoming solar energy. The higher the roof temperature, the
harder the air conditioning system must work to keep interiors
cool. In contrast, cool roofs can reduce the roof surface
temperature by up to 100°F, thereby redu