The University of Melbourne revealed that white roofs absorb less heat and stay cooler during hot days. This information will help in maintaining temperatures, reducing energy costs, generating more savings and reducing emissions, as well.

1. White Cools Down Roofs,
Study Shows
PERMACOAT
Address: 90 BERINGARRA AVENUE,MALAGA, WA 6090 AUSTRALIA
Contact Number: 08 9249 5955

2. The University of Melbourne
revealed that white roofs
absorb less heat and stay
cooler during hot days. This
information will help in
maintaining temperatures,
reducing energy costs,
generating more savings
and reducing emissions, as
well.
Making buildings cooler
The university conducted a
research to determine if white
roofs are suitable for residential,
commercial and industrial
buildings. The researchers
concluded that white roofs cool
down commercial buildings by
3% on hot days, which reduce
urban heat island effect and improve the health of city users. Researchers
also noted that these roofs can be, in theory, an effective method for
reducing urban heat.

3. Tackling urban heat
Australia experiences intense heat due to climate change. Cities take most of
the damage than rural areas due to dark-coloured asphalt roads and tar-
covered roofs, which absorb heat. Temperatures in ‘heat islands’ of urban
areas are about 1-3°C higher than the countryside as a result. White roofs
reflect heat away from the building instead of absorbing it, thus making
these roofs better roofing alternatives. This may mean lower incidence of
heat-related diseases, as well.
More savings
White roofs contribute to more savings from cooling and maintenance costs.
A report by the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory showed that white
roofs reflected around 3 times more sunlight than a black-roofed building,
thus minimising the heat build-up in roof cavities. The study led to a 50-year
net saving of US$25 per square metre, which is higher than green roofs at
US$96 per square metre.

4. Reducing emissions
By cooling down buildings, white roofs lessen the consumption for ACs and
greenhouse gas emissions, as well. The study cited Melbourne’s central
business district as an example. If all the roofs of its estimated 3,500,000m2
of commercial space were painted white, then in theory reduce its CO2
emissions by 4.5M MJ per year, 1.5 million kilos of CO2 or 3 million black
balloons.
White roofs produce a positive
domino effect. By making
buildings cooler, these roofs
reduces the effects of urban heat,
create more savings and reduce
emissions. Whilst the feasibility of
painting roofs with white need
more studies, these findings
provide at least temporary
solutions to Australia’s
longstanding battle with the heat.
Resources:
http://www.realestate.com.au/blog/white-roofs-save-money/
http://www.abc.net.au/science/articles/2010/01/29/2804793.htm
http://www.permacoat.com.au/roof-maintenance-repairs/