A Fresno home replaced dark asphalt shingles with reflective concrete roof tiles; a Lawrence Berkeley study reported 26% lower annual cooling energy use and 37% lower peak-hour demandA recent study in Fresno demonstrated that reflective roofs could lower cooling energy consumption by an impressive twenty-six percent. Hom...
In 1991, researchers coated a Merritt Island home’s green-gray shingle roof with reflective material; the shingles reached about 110°F after treatmentDark roofs tend to soak up heat from the sun, resulting in higher air conditioning demands and costs. Utilizing reflective roofing material...
Since 2016, San Antonio has replaced dark roofs on low-income homes with reflective shingles; the program was linked to lower attic temperatures and electricity useSan Antonio has launched an innovative project to replace traditional dark roofs with energy-efficient reflective roofing. This initiative ...
In 1996, Florida researchers whitened 7 shops in a Cocoa strip mall; roof surfaces fell by as much as 70°F, cooling energy dropped 25.3%, and peak demand dropped 40.3%In an innovative Florida trial, it was found that white roofs significantly decreased heat levels and energy usage. Traditionally, unpainte...
In 2001, researchers tested a white roof on a large Austin retail store; the study reported lower roof temperatures and an 11% reduction in cooling energy useA 2001 study in Austin demonstrated that white roofs lowered building temperatures significantly. This change reduced air conditioning ener...
In 2018, a University of Hawaii study compared green and white roofs in Honolulu; the green roof was reported to have lower peak temperatures at the surface and nearby airA University of Hawaii graduate student tested green roofs against white ones. The green roof proved significantly cooler than the adjacent...
In 2007, Oak Ridge built a roof with phase-change material between foil layers; attic temperatures fell about 22°F, with utility savings estimated at 8%Developed by Oak Ridge National Laboratory, innovative attic technology utilizing phase change materials has proven to lower attic temperat...
In 2023, Princeton researchers tested a naturally ventilated cooling box; it stayed below outdoor air while using radiative cooling and buoyancy-driven airflowResearchers have unveiled a groundbreaking cooling technique designed for buildings that eliminates the need for traditional air conditioni...
In 2023, CUHK researchers milled glass bubbles for 5 minutes before mixing cooling paint; solar reflectivity rose from 75.8% to 95.8% during field tests at noonInnovative researchers have unveiled a groundbreaking paint designed for energy-free cooling in buildings. By incorporating larger glass bu...
In 2021, Berkeley Lab made a roof coating that switches at 67°C. Today, it beats existing coatings in 12 of 15 US climate zones, cutting household electricity use 10%Installing TARC could help the average U.S. household reduce electricity consumption by up to 10 percent annually. Another advantage of TAR...
In 1995, Florida researchers coated a Cocoa Beach school roof white; over the following year, chiller energy use fell 10%, saving 13,000 kWh, while peak demand fell 35%A study conducted in Florida revealed that white roofs can drastically lower cooling costs, marking a significant achievement in the realm ...
City University of Hong Kong built a radiative-cooling ceramic tile reflecting 99.6% of sunlight; field tests found it about 5°C cooler than standard tilesResearchers developed a new ceramic tile inspired by beetles. This tile reflects 99.6% of sunlight and releases absorbed heat effectively. ...
In 2020, Stanford's radiative cooling technology reached a California supermarket roof; panels were estimated to save 15% to 20% energy, while a Tempe bus shelter film was reported 30°F coolerNew technology allows surfaces to cool themselves under direct sunlight. This innovation reflects sunlight and radiates heat into outer spa...
In a 2011 Las Vegas test, a 15.24-cm wet roof pond lowered indoor peak operative temperature by about 8.5°C versus the outdoor maximumIn the summer of 2011, a groundbreaking building in Las Vegas experimented with roof pond cooling. Results indicated that wet roof ponds ef...
Argonne modeled Chicago’s August 2021 heatwave with different roof types; white roofs lowered air temperature by nearly 2°C and cooling energy use by 16.6%Transforming the rooftops of Chicago into cooler surfaces has led to a notable reduction in city temperatures. The use of white cool roofs ...
Berkeley Lab built a roof coating of vanadium dioxide that flips at 67°C; across 15 US climate zones, it outperformed existing coatings in 12 and cut household electricity by 10%A team of researchers has introduced an innovative roof coating designed to respond to changing seasonal temperatures. This cutting-edge ma...
Illinois researchers tested a passive cooling film in Houston; treated metal roofs measured more than 40°F cooler in direct sunlightAs American summers heat up, public health risks escalate, prompting researchers to create an innovative coating that cools metal roofs by ...