By Emma Peterson. 

Discover why metal roofing is leading the market when it comes to cool roofing solutions.  

Finding success in a competitive industry like roofing is all about differentiating yourself and knowing what your customers want. And right now, some of the primary concerns for home and business owners are rising temperatures and energy costs. To learn how you can help solve this issue for your clients, we hosted Melissa Dunson, director of marketing at Central States Manufacturing, and Audrey McGarrell, communications manager for Cool Roof Rating Council (CRRC), for an episode of Roofing Road Trips®. 

Cool roofs are the solution 

So, what can you do to address rising energy costs and increasing environmental temperatures? The answer is simple: Cool roofing. At its core, cool roofing is all about reflectance. A cool roof is one that reflects more sunlight, and therefore absorbs less thermal energy than your typical roof.  

The result of higher reflectance? Audrey explained, “By fundamentally keeping the building cooler, you are reducing demand for air conditioning, which can lead to a chain reaction that goes as far as reducing your carbon footprint and your energy bill.” Melissa added to Audrey’s point, sharing, “There are estimates that a cool roof can lead to as much as 20% of savings on the energy bill, which is huge, especially if you live in a part of the country where it is significantly hot during a significant part of the day, like Texas, Arizona, California, Florida.” 

Sourcing cool roofing 

When it comes to finding the right cool roofing products for specific projects, a great place to start is with CRRC’s Rated Roof Products Directory. Audrey shared a bit about it:  

We are a completely independent third party and work with accredited independent testing laboratories to test roofing and exterior wall materials for solar reflectance and thermal emittance. Once we’ve done our testing, we review the data and publish an initial rating. It’s called that because we also send product specimens to three different test farms across the United States where they are mounted and exposed to the natural elements and left untouched for three years. After those three years, we test them again and give them an aged rating. 

This aged rating truly takes the Rated Roof Products Directory to another level. Melissa spoke about why having both the initial and aged is so important, explaining, “The age testing is key because people don't get a roof for just three years. Roofs are an investment and how it performs on year ten is equally as important as its performance on day one.”  

Cool metal roofs are the future 

Based on data from this aged testing, metal roofing has emerged as a great option for a cool roof. Melissa explained:  

One of the things that we found about metal is it performs year after year in very strong way. That’s one of the reasons that metal has such long warranties...It also has innate properties that give it higher reflectance and emittance rates than tile, asphalt or other materials. So, add special cool roofing paints to it and it's even more reflective. So metal is really a natural fit if people are looking for a long-lasting, durable, cool roof. 

Listen to the whole episode to learn more about getting high-performance, cool metal roofs.

By The Cool Roof Rating Council.

Stacey Weister's reflection on volunteering with the SMART Girls Program.

In July 2025, Cool Roof Rating Council (CRRC) Senior Technical Manager Stacey Weister had the opportunity to serve as a mentor for the SMART Girls program at the Boys and Girls Club of Massillon, Ohio. She shared about her career journey and led the girls in completing the CRRC Cool Surfaces Lesson Plan. Below, Stacey shares her reflections on the experience.

Sharing my career journey — a path from the factory floor to a senior technical role — taught me that the best lessons in life are the ones you both teach and learn. This past July, I had the opportunity to mentor for the SMART Girls Program at the Boys and Girls Club of Massillon, Ohio. This social-emotional learning initiative is designed to boost confidence and encourage healthy lifestyles among young women. I felt privileged to serve as a female role model for them for the day.

My main goal was to inspire these young women by sharing my unconventional career journey: From factory worker to mother, college graduate and ultimately the senior technical manager at the CRRC. I highlighted the importance of passion and perseverance, encouraging them to aim high and never give up, even in male-dominated fields.

To help the girls better understand the CRRC's work, I presented our Cool Surfaces Lesson Plan. We conducted an experiment to learn how a building’s surface properties can impact indoor temperatures, and we discussed how cool surfaces, such as cool roofs and cool exterior walls, can help combat the urban heat island (UHI) effect. Seven groups of girls ranging in age from first graders to high school seniors were genuinely engaged. Their insightful questions and contagious enthusiasm showed me just how ready the next generation is to tackle important issues and create a more sustainable future.

I went in hoping to inspire them, but I left with something even more meaningful. After a day of connection, learning and sharing, I was overwhelmed by their heartfelt thanks and hugs. It was a powerful reminder of the importance of mentorship. These bright, passionate, and determined young women inspired me just as much as I hoped to inspire them. This experience strengthened my belief in the value of mentorship and the importance of demonstrating to young girls what they can achieve. It's a day I will always treasure.

Inspiring leadership stories, meaningful education, hands-on training and a powerful sense of community made NWIR Days 2026 an event to remember. 

Editor’s note: The following is a transcript of a conversation between the Coffee Shop crew about NWIR Days 2026. 

Karen Edwards: National Women in Roofing 2026 just ended, and it was an amazing day. It was a great event. I think one of my favorite parts about the day was the opening session where the four co-founders, Jennifer Ford Smith, Jenny Stone, Shari Carlozzi and Heidi J. Ellsworth shared the story of how the organization started and what they had to do to get things off the ground. And I would say probably 20% of the room were first timers, and so these are folks who've never heard that before, because they haven't been here the whole time. And the reason that that was the morning session was because National Women in Roofing is celebrating their 10-year anniversary since becoming incorporated as a 501 c6 in 2016, so it was amazing to see where it started and where it is now. And they really, really made the event great.  

You know it was interesting and exciting because it went by real fast. Another thing that I really enjoyed was Megan led a panel on building loyalty with your employees, and it was about how to help working parents and how you can support them and how you can make it easier for them. And that was a panel that had Jenny Stone, Cool Roof Rating Council’s Jeff Steuben and Kyra Coker from National Roofing Partners. And you know, we have a lot of young folks here that are becoming parents for the first time. And so understanding what are some things that we can do to support it was really valuable.  

And then, of course, the Skills Lab. You get to see the products, you get to try stuff out, you get to try welding. It was just a really, really well-rounded day. And you know, thank you to Christee Roberson for her leadership. And we're looking forward to Christine Mockenhaupt taking the reins for 2026. 

Lauren White: I agree, the day went by really quick. As for the breakout sessions, there were fewer of them, but they were longer, which was really nice because people could really get into having a conversation, asking questions, getting good advice and feedback from everybody else in the room. Last year it sometimes felt like we were rushed to get to the next session, but not this year.  

We had the awards during lunch. It was really fun to celebrate the Rising Stars and the WORLD Award winners. They did Council Awards again this year, and the councils are doing some really incredible things. And the WORLD Award winner for this year is Michelle Ly with Hallmark Roofing in Austin, Texas, and the Rising Star Award is Liz Garza with SRS Distribution, which was really fun to celebrate them.  

We had a really fun time at the Skills Lab. Dani and I did some heat welding and some pull tests. We write about all these companies and materials and products, and it was really fun to just feel them and touch them and work with them.  

Dani Sheehan: I agree. It was really well planned out. I really appreciated having the awards during lunch and being able to network through that and then also having the break in between sessions, just getting us up and moving was really great.  

I also think the Skills Lab was my favorite part. Just having so many hands-on demonstrations, the QXO challenge during the networking break was really fun to watch, and I think we were able to capture some great videoto see who could put down the ISO board the fastest. So that was really cool to see.  

And just again, being in this room where women are building each other up, and there's not competition, and we're just all here together, learning about roofing, being in this industry, creating this community. I lovedgetting to meet Kim with Division 7 Roofing and hang out with her. Mandy's session at the end was a great way to close everything out. Her session, Speaking Up, To Show Up: Building Confidence in Work and Life, was so great and it was great to feel the energy in that room. And I think she just helped us all get rid of that imposter syndrome that we all feel in the workplace.  

Camden Bennett: This is my first NWIR Day, and going into IRE it was really fun to see how much energy all the women exuded here, and how, even though some of our companies might be competitors, everyone was very friendly, and clearly wanted to know what others had to say.  

My first session was, Roofing is Like a Sandwich, Understanding the Basics with Lynn Picone and Kimberly Santiago-Vega with GAF and I got to see some of the technical errors that people make, and how to remedy those, and how even little mistakes can cause huge problems with roofing and can be quite costly, and then how to avoid those in the future. The Skills Lab was also my favorite. It's fun to be able to use the things that we are writing about, posting or promoting. As for the Speak Up session, it was interesting to see what other people had to say and have some good discussion. It was eye opening. 

Jessica Bravo: I attended Roofing 101, Covering the Basics with GAF. It was really informative, and Kimberly and Lynn are very knowledgeable. And like everyone said, Skills Lab was my favorite, watching Camden use the nail gun was really fun. And we ended the breakout sessions with Speak Up and Show Up with Mandy. Connecting with the NWIR Latina Council, Conexión Hispana, was also great. 

By Anna Lockhart.  

With climate change and energy efficiency becoming a growing concern for many home and building owners, choosing the right roofing materials matters.  

Are your customers concerned about getting the most out of their investments? In an ever-increasing global climate, where beating the heat at a reasonable price is key, installing a metal roofing system can mean major savings and an increased eco-conscious footprint for building owners. In an episode of the Roofing Road Trips® podcast, Heidi J. Ellsworth sat down with Melissa Dunson, director of marketing for Central States Manufacturing, to discuss how metal roofing systems are the ideal solution for those looking to invest in sustainable, durable building solutions They were also joined by Audrey McGarrell, communications manager for the Cool Roof Rating Council (CRRC), to provide information about solar-reflective "cool" roofs."

What exactly are “cool roofs” anyway? According to the Cool Roof Rating Council, cool roofing systems are designed to effectively reflect sunlight and cool itself without retaining absorbed heat. This effect leads to lower energy costs for the building or homeowner, and a much better impact on the environment. Audrey emphasized the benefits of investing in cool roofing materials for contractors. She shared, “Everybody wants a cooler, more comfortable home in the summer. And everybody's looking for ways to reduce their energy bills...[cool roofs are] low-hanging fruit in terms of a simple change that a homeowner can make, and having contractors be educated to answer questions about cool roofing is really important."

Melissa added to that point, emphasizing how metal roofing, as a great place to start with cool roofing materials, is a fantastic way for contractors to sell more. She explained, “Metal roofing and cool roofing, they're such a wonderful combination because it just so happens that metal, because of its innate properties, is a natural reflector. So, without having to do anything special, it has really high reflectance and emittance rates.” 

Metal’s natural capabilities, paired with a coating color of your choice, can make for not only an aesthetically pleasing roofing solution, but a sustainable one, too. As a larger share of the market continues to shift towards eco-conscious building practices, now is the time for contractors to lean into that marketing angle, offering metal roofing systems as the ideal solution for a greener tomorrow.  

Listen to the podcast to learn more about cool roofing and how Central States Manufacturing can help contractors meet the demand for cooler roofs! 

By Emma Peterson. 

Explore the science, benefits and savings surrounding cool roofing. 

Editor’s note: Share this article with customers who are interested in cool roofing and the savings that come with it. 

Did you know that a traditional roof can reach temperatures upwards of 150°F on sunny summer afternoons? This type of heat and exposure not only can prematurely age the roof, but it also contributes to things like the urban heat island effect (when urban areas experience higher temperatures, greater pollution and negative health impacts during hot summer months due to the overwhelming presence of heat-absorptive surfaces like pavement and heat-generating activities like engines) and can raise the building's cooling costs! So, what can you do about this? Cool roof materials! 

What is a cool roof  

The United States Department of Energy reports that a “cool roof is designed to reflect more sunlight than a conventional roof, absorbing less solar energy, [and lowering the temperature by 50°F or more].” Lowering this temperature leads to a variety of benefits, both for the building owner and the environment around it. Benefits include: 

• Energy bill savings: By keeping the roof cooler, the entire building stays cooler. This helps reduce the air conditioning needs of the building and can save a lot of money over time.  
• Extend roof life: Extensive exposure to high temperatures can prematurely age a roof. By lowering the temperature a roof reaches, cool roofing can extend the lifespan of a roof. 
• Reduce urban heat island effect: Because the roof is absorbing less heat (ergo releasing less heat later) and instead reflecting it back out into the atmosphere, it lowers outside temperatures and can help offset climate issues.  
• Decrease pollution: Many air pollutants are temperature dependent and create a cooler atmosphere around it, cool roofs can actually slow the formation of smog! They also generally reduce the number of pollutants put into the environment as they lower the power plant energy consumption by reducing air condition usage. 

What does a cool roof look like? 

Cool roofs come in many different shapes and forms. Many are often lighter-colored, as that allows them to reflect more sunlight and subsequently heat. However, as “about half of sunlight arrives as invisible “near infrared” radiation... dark materials can use special pigments (colorants) that preferentially reflect this invisible light.” This innovation allows home and building owners to adopt cool roofing without sacrificing things like curb appeal. 

One of the best resources to work with to make a choice about cool roofing is the Cool Roof Rating Council (CRRC). They are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that “develops fair, accurate and credible methods for evaluating and labeling the radiative properties of roofing and exterior wall products.” Specifically, the rated roof products directory is a great resource to learn more about cool roofing materials and products.  

Installing a cool roof 

While cool roofing has many benefits, they can be a bit expensive. Oftentimes, that cost is offset but the long-term savings in reduced energy bills and extended roof lifespan, but it can be a lot up front. Luckily, there are a lot of programs that help make cool roofs affordable! A great example is the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) rebates for cool roof installations. These rebates offer “$0.20 to $0.80 per square foot for eligible cool roof installations” in order to make energy-efficiency more accessible.  

The rebates available to home and building owners depends on the state and city they live in, though there was a bill (H.R.2679) introduced in April 2025 called Cool Roof Rebate Act of 2025 that aims to “to direct the Secretary of Energy to establish and carry out a program to provide rebates for the purchase and installation of cool roof products.” However, as of the writing of this article, this bill is still being examined by the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. In the meantime, here are some of the rebates to look into based on what state you’re in!  

• California: Cool roof rebate options are not limited to Los Angeles. There’s a statewide program called Energy Upgrade CA that offers rebates of up to $5,000 for eligible cool roofing materials that are installed alongside other energy efficient home upgrades. 
• Florida: Florida’s Solar and Energy Loan Fund (SELF) offers rebates of up to $5,000 for roofing materials that are certified with ENERGY STAR®. 
• New York: Like Florida, New York offers rebates based on the installation of ENERGY STAR® certified roofing products. This is part of the state’s NYSERDA (New York State Energy Research and Development Authority) program. 
• Ohio: Home and business owners in Ohio can get interest rate reductions of loans for energy-efficient roofing through Ohio’s Eco-Link program. 
• Texas: The Texas Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) is a powerful financial program that can provide a loan of up to 100% for energy efficiency and renewable energy retrofits.  
• Illinois: For residents of Illinois, they can apply for grants up to 50% of the installation cost through the Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation. 

In addition to state rebates and programs, many utility companies and roofing manufacturers offer their own rebates and incentives to encourage the use of cool roofing materials. A great example is residents of Colorado and Minnesota whose utility company is Xcel Energy, who can use “ENERGY STAR® certified roofing materials as part of their home energy efficiency programs.” As for manufacture incentives, companies like GAF, Owens Corning and CertainTeed have different promotions and rebates available. Overall, no matter where you are, cool roofs are a great option to not only help the environment and your community but also save some money and make your building more comfortable. 

Original image source: Cool Roof Rating Council

By Drexel Metals.  

Explore the characteristics, benefits and color variations of Drexel Metal’s cool roof products. 

For 40 years, Drexel Metals has been a leader in the distribution of painted metal for the roofing, architectural sheet metal and crop storage industries. Our team is dedicated to listening to each customer’s concepts and requirements and providing inspiring products and artisan skills.  

One area of our services that continues to grow is the interest and demand for cool roofs in various colors for various designs and styles. To meet this need, we currently have over 35 cool roof rated products that each boast strong retention in their solar reflectance and thermal emittance. 

What is a cool roof? 

A cool roof is one that strongly reflects sunlight (solar energy) and cools itself by efficiently emitting any heat that was absorbed. This reduces the amount of heat conducted into the building below. If a building does not have air conditioning, this keeps the building cooler and at a more constant temperature. If a building has air conditioning, the equipment does not have to work as hard. Imagine the difference between wearing a white or a black T-shirt on a hot day. By wearing the white T-shirt you will remain cooler because it reflects more sunlight and absorbs less heat. Cool roofs, like a white T-shirt, keep the internal temperature of the building lower.  

However, a cool roof does not need to be white. There are many “cool color” products which use darker-colored pigments that are highly reflective in the near infrared (non-visible) portion of the solar spectrum. 

Drexel Metals cool roof rated products include colors ranging from white, sandstone, silver and champagne to teal, dark bronze, charcoal and cardinal red. While some of these shades may be surprising, they are equally effective, if not sometimes better, solar reflection and thermal emittance. 

Benefits of a cool roof 

• Increase occupants’ comfort by keeping the building cooler during hot summer months. 
• Cut costs by reducing the need for air conditioning and extending the life of cooling equipment. Individual results may vary based on a variety of factors related to the climate and installation. 
• Decrease roof temperature, which may extend the roof’s service life.  
• Address air pollution and global warming concerns by lowering carbon dioxide and other emissions associated with fossil fuel-generated electricity used for air conditioning.  
• Reduce the urban heat island effect by reflecting heat back into the atmosphere. An urban heat island occurs when a city is hotter than the surrounding rural areas due to having more dark surfaces (like roofs and roads) that absorb heat from the sun and having fewer shade trees and less vegetation. 

What does the Cool Roof Rating Council (CRRC) measure? 

There are two basic characteristics that determine the “coolness” of a roof. These characteristics are solar reflectance and thermal emittance. Both properties are measured on a scale from zero to one, where one is 100% reflective or emissive. 

The CRRC measures these two properties for roofing products, both for the product’s initial values and after three years of outdoor exposure. The CRRC publishes the results on the Rated Roof Products Directory. The directory enables you to compare the rated values of various product types and brands. 

A majority of Drexel Metals cool roof rated products — in various shades and colors — retain their initial solar reflectance and thermal emittance after three years, with others reducing slightly in that time period. Check out our list of cool roof rated products and their CRRC measured solar reflectance and thermal emittance. 

Original article and photo source: Drexel Metals

By Lauren White.  

There’s no voodoo involved when talking about cool surfaces at the CRRC Annual Meeting.  

Between ghost tours, vampire apothecaries and beignets, the Big Easy hosted the Cool Roof Rating Council (CRRC) annual meeting. From June 10-12, 2025, members of the CRRC, committee members, sponsors and interested individuals ventured south to New Orleans, Louisiana to talk about Cool Surfaces in Action.  

Day 1 - Committee meeting day  

After breakfast, handshakes and hello’s, the technical committee kicked off the day with roll call, minute approvals and proposed revisions and changes. George Daisy with DOW and the chair of the CRRC technical committee; Sarah Schneider, CRRC deputy director; and Stacey Weister, CRRC senior technical manager presented throughout the morning.  

About 40 people in person and a handful via Zoom convened for the first half of the day making decisions about definition edits and procedural changes to five-point reflectance test updates and insights on the program manual digitization project. 

After the lunch break, the educational committee meeting started both in person and via Zoom for those who couldn’t travel this week. Kurt Shickman, an interested individual and the educational committee chair; Audrey McGarrell, CRRC communications manager; and Iona Isachsen, Smart Surfaces Coalition shared:  

• Project updates and timelines for completion  
• Downloads and resources information  
• Cool surfaces lesson plan status update  

At the end of the day, the floor opened up for anyone to talk about new business, ask questions and for updates on ongoing projects and discuss future priorities and projects.  

Day 2 - Annual meeting time 

This year, about 70 people, ranging from roofing contractors and interested individuals to manufacturers and research and academic professionals, convened to hear updates, ask questions and learn about new initiatives happening across the nation.   

Sponsors for the event include: Ace Laboratories as a platinum sponsor; Duro-Last, 3M, Climate Reserve, PRI, MACOMA as gold sponsors; IKO, DOW, Atlas, Siplast, Westlake Royal Roofing Solutions, RoofersCoffeeShop® as silver sponsors; Topps Products and R&D Services as bronze sponsors. 

Attendees represented a range of professionals from state energy offices, laboratories, distributors, codes and compliance divisions and universities. Some companies in attendance included: Sherwin-Williams, General Coatings, Western Colloid, Polyglass, 3M, ACE Laboratories, Hawaii State Energy Office, National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA), CertainTeed, National Coil Coatings Association, among others.  

A common theme throughout updates and presentations during the day was expanding reach and education. The CRRC continues to grow and while most members are located in the United States, there are now members in India and Australia. They also continue to broaden their reach through podcasts and webinars, speaking and showcasing at trade shows, publishing new resources, building up their social media – go follow them on LinkedIn, Instagram and Threads – and more! The morning was full of committee information and updates. 

Looking ahead, their goals are to continue to educate building contractors, increase code and program references, make cool surface research more accessible, and also improve and grow existing rating programs.  

Marty Hastings Award   

The 2025 recipient of the Marty Hastings Award is Kurt Shickman who has been a member of the CRRC for over a decade and has held multiple leadership roles throughout the years. The Marty Hastings Award was started in 2011 to honor Marty Hastings, a longtime CRRC board member and contributor. The recipient of this award is someone who makes great contributions to the CRRC and their efforts. In addition to the award, a monetary donation is made to a charity of the recipient’s choice. Kurt chose to donate to the Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI), Future Climate Leaders Scholarship. The EESI is a nonprofit offering science-based education to policymakers and the public, aiming to build a sustainable, resilient future through solutions to climate, energy and environmental challenges. This donation will go to fund scholarships and other academic support programs for students at historically black colleges.  

Cool guest presentations about cool surfaces  

Adopting cool roofs in historically cool climates  

Julia Nassar, senior energy and climate planner for The Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC) for Greater Boston shared about “Expanding Cool Roof Awareness and Adoption in Metro-Boston.” MAPC is a regional planning agency serving the people who live and work in the 101 cities and towns of the Metropolitan Boston region. According to Julia, the frequency and severity of extreme heat events in historically cooler regions like New England where aging housing stock, low AC prevalence and limited heat-risk awareness leaves residents ill-prepared. MAPC’s Cool Roofs Initiative is a project aimed at expanding the awareness and adoption of cool roofs to help reduce heat and energy demand. Their goal is to promote the adoption of cools roofs in the Metro Mayors (16 cities making up the inner core of Boston) region through developing support tools and resources. 

Through the Cool Roof’s Initiative, they developed tools and resources to raise awareness among building owners, contractors and policymakers in Metro-Boston. Julia shared a variety of resources available, including: 

• Cool roof self-assessment: 11 question assessment to help people determine if a cool roof is right for a property  
• Cool roof suitability tool – Interactive map that allows users to identify opportunities for cool roof retrofits. 
• An Educational Toolkit that’s translated into five different languages  
• Market analysis of cool roof potential 

Data and climate action and heat mitigation  

Douglas Melnick, chief sustainability officer for the city of San Antonio, about heat mitigation efforts and ongoing research efforts in San Antonio. As the sixth largest city in the U.S. with 17% of the population identified as low income, rising temperatures are affecting more people, costing more and having major negative impacts. San Antonio saw a record high of 117 degrees Fahrenheit in 2024! According to Douglas, “Extreme heat is here and it’s only going to continue to get more severe as we see an increase in temperatures because of human-caused climate change.”  

During his presentation, “SA Climate Ready and Cool Neighborhoods: A Data-driven Approach to Climate Action and Heat Mitigation,” Douglas shared about the Urban Heat Mitigation Program that the City of San Antonio launched in 2024. Following an extensive mapping process, the City’s Office of Sustainability launched a Cool Neighborhood Program in four target areas to concentrate layered heat mitigation activities in conjunction with ongoing research. Based on the research, 73% of people shared that they were interested in cooler roofs as a strategy to mitigate heat. When cool roofs were installed on homes there was a significant 7.3% energy use reduction and a 10.1-degree reduction. The Cool Pavement Program started in 2023 and as of this year they’re on track to install 22.35 miles of cool pavement. Possible materials being tested are: GAF Streetbond – Durashield, SealMaster – SolarPave, GuardTop – Iron.    

Albedo management  

I learned a new term during this presentation: albedo. Albedo is the Latin word for “whiteness” or “lightness” and is the measure of how reflective a surface is. “Shine On: Recognizing Local and Global Benefits of Albedo Management” was presented by members from Climate Resolve. Bryn Moncelsi, deputy director, and Selena Melgoza, senior climate solutions analyst shared details about the Shine On Initiative, which was launched to recognize the full range of benefits of cool surfaces to spur broader deployment. A nonprofit based in Los Angeles, California, Climate Resolve’s mission is to champion equitable climate solutions. As of January 2015, Climate Resolve passed LA’s Cool Roof Ordinance and Rebate requiring all new and replacement roofs to be a cool roof. They were the first major city to establish a cool roof ordinance, and 10 years later, over 18 million square feet of cool roofing materials have been installed.  

While cool streets are still in the pilot phase, they continue to work with the community and industry partners to reach widespread adoption. According to Climate Resolve, 40% of asphalt cover radiates heat all day and night, making it crucial to cool these surfaces not only for people accessing the streets but also to curb the urban heat island effect. As part of their pilot they have installed cool materials in a variety of city blocks, outdoor basketball courts and have seen a heat differential as high as 12 degrees Fahrenheit. While it’s still gaining traction, to date there have been 182 lane miles installed and they’re looking forward to more adoption and installation in the future.  

This is my second year attending the CRRC Annual Meeting, and I learned just as much this year as I did last year in Las Vegas! It’s pretty incredible to be in the same room as other like-minded people from around the world who are working towards a more sustainable future. We write a lot on The Coffee Shops about sustainability and green initiatives, and the work the CRRC is doing is vitally important. I continue to be impressed with the brilliant minds who are helping the world stay cool. 

By Emma Peterson. 

Lauren Rogers of Sherwin-Williams shares cool roof coating basics and benefits. 

As energy costs rise and climate change continues to raise concerns about the planet, cool roof coatings have been developed as an innovative construction solution. These coatings are designed with advanced materials and pigments that allow them to, in comparison to traditional roofing materials, maintain lower roof surface temperatures. In this Read Listen Watch (RLW)® webinar, Heidi J. Ellsworth spoke to Lauren Rogers of Sherwin-Williams about these coatings and the benefits of maintaining a lower surface temperature.  

The first thing Lauren explained was that cool coatings reduce heat absorption in two ways, solar reflectance and thermal emittance. Solar reflectance is a surface’s ability to reflect solar radiation (sun rays). On the other hand, thermal emittance is how well a surface emits heat through infrared radiation. These two measurements, how much heat is reflected and how much is released, are what make up the solar reflective index measurement. Lauren explained, “The solar reflective index (SRI) is a calculated value that combines a material solar reflectance and thermal emittance into a single number. And typically, these SRI values range from zero to 100 and then a standard darkest black you can get will have an SRI of zero and then while a standard white pure white, it will have an SRI of 100.” 

These high SRI coatings are perfect for urban areas that are struggling with what is called the urban heat island (UHI) effect. Lauren explained, “Cool coatings are helping mitigate the urban heat island effect. For a basic definition, UHI is where urban areas are experiencing higher temperatures. So these cool roofs are helping mitigate and keep the temperatures of these urban areas a bit lower.” That’s not to say they can’t be a great option for more rural areas as well. In addition to lowering temperatures, these coatings can improve the durability of metal roofs against the effects of weathering.  

For contractors looking for those higher SRI coatings, the ones that will better reflect heat and stay cooler, they should look for products that have been certified by third-party labs like the Cool Roof Rating Council (CRRC). Lauren shared how Sherwin-Williams works with this group, saying, “SRI values are typically calculated in a lab. So often these values must be requested but are easy. Here at Sherwin, we calculate these at our Fort Myers, Florida facility. Then we have our values verified by the Cool Roof Rating Council, the CRRC, that is a third-party, non-biased source that vets and approves SRI values of coatings.” 

Read the transcript, Listen to the conversation or Watch the webinar to learn more about cool roofs and their benefits. 

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Elevate™ Commercial Roofing Systems, a premier manufacturer of roofing, wall and lining systems, is proud to announce the expansion of its PVC product lineup with the introduction of MAX PVC and fleece-backed MAX PVC XR roofing membranes. These new products reinforce our commitment to evolve how tomorrow is built by providing the highest quality systems that solve customer challenges.

With a 40-year legacy of proven commercial roofing experience and 30 years of producing high-performance PVC roofing membranes, Elevate continues to innovate and expand its offerings to meet the ever-changing needs of the market. The MAX PVC and MAX PVC XR membranes are designed for premium flexibility, durability and energy efficiency.

"At Elevate, our customers are at the heart of everything we do. We listen closely to their needs in our pursuit of quality and innovation,” said Jamie Gentoso, PE, global head of solutions & products at Holcim and president of Holcim Building Envelope. “The launch of MAX PVC and MAX PVC XR is a continuation of our proven track record of delivering best-in-class solutions that our customers can trust — because with Elevate, 'Nobody Covers You Better.’”

Key features of the new MAX PVC membranes include an advanced 18x9 scrim that offers superior puncture resistance and durability. MAX PVC and MAX PVC XR are ideal choices for a wide range of commercial applications, including data centers, factories, restaurants and educational institutions. These environments benefit from the membranes' exceptional chemical, grease and fire resistance, which can contribute to a longer roof lifespan. MAX PVC membranes are available in white, gray, tan and charcoal and are designed to provide long-lasting durability, ensuring that building owners receive superior protection and performance. White MAX PVC is Cool Roof Rating Council-compliant and eligible for LEED credits with the U.S. Green Building Council. MAX PVC and MAX PVC XR membranes may help attain additional green building credits in combination with other design components.

MAX PVC and MAX PVC XR are available through trusted Elevate-licensed contractors, easily accessible via nationwide distribution channels, and backed by the industry-leading Elevate Red Shield™ Warranty. With the addition of these products, Elevate offers one of the most comprehensive portfolios of PVC roofing systems in the industry.

For more information about MAX PVC and MAX PVC XR, or to explore the full portfolio of Elevate innovative roofing solutions, please visit HolcimElevate.com.

About Elevate Commercial Roofing Systems

Elevate is committed to providing the highest quality roofing, wall and lining systems to solve our customers’ challenges and evolve how tomorrow is built. With a legacy spanning over 40 years, Elevate is positioned to propel the industry forward with sustainable solutions and expertise to help our customers succeed. As a global leader in advanced roofing systems, Elevate symbolizes Holcim’s continued commitment to delivering superior quality and innovation. Visit HolcimElevate.com to learn more.

About Holcim Building Envelope

Holcim Building Envelope delivers high-performance solutions that make the entire building envelope more sustainable for customers around the world. We are committed to raising the standards of building solutions by delivering superior quality and innovation while addressing industry needs. Our offerings cover a comprehensive range of residential and commercial roofing, wall and lining systems, insulation and waterproofing solutions for a variety of industries, from construction to marine and aerospace. Our powerful portfolio of brands includes Elevate Commercial Roofing Systems, Duro-Last Roofing Systems, Malarkey Roofing Products, GenFlex Roofing Systems, Gaco and Enverge Spray Foam. Holcim Building Envelope is a division of the Holcim Group. Visit HolcimBE.com to learn more.