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CLIMATE RESOLVE TWEETS

Hot City, Cool Roofs

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“A cool roof is a common-sense step to combating climate change.

And to make it easier for Angelenos across the city to take this step, I am directing our Department of Building and Safety to take the necessary initial steps to adopt cool roof measures from the state’s Cal Green codes into our building code.”
Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa
(Read Full Remarks)

Thank you to all who came to the Hot City, Cool Roofs Conference on March 8.
We heard from experts, scientists, and leaders from across the country who are making great strides towards creating affordable climate solutions for all.Below find copies of the presentations from the day’s speakers as well as more information about what Climate Resolve is doing with your help to turn Los Angeles into one cool city.
Heat and Health – Dr. Laurence Kalkstein, Univ of Miami
Cool Opportunity in Los Angeles – Kurt Shickman, Global Cool Cities Alliance
Research and Outreach for SoCal and Beyond – Heat Island Group, Lawrence Berkeley Natl Lab
How Cool is Your Roof – Jessica Clark, Cool Roof Rating Council
Cool Roof Incenties and CALGreen Code – Craig Tranby, LADWP

What We’re Doing

Climate Resolve is currently spearheading a project that will outfit existing low-income apartment buildings in Los Angeles with cool roofs.

We can feel the difference in temperature between a tree-lined street and a barren stretch of wide sidewalk. Concrete and asphalt– and in fact, most roofs too–capture the sun’s energy, holding it and slowly radiating heat back out. These kinds of surfaces contribute to the Urban Heat Island Effect. These surfaces retain heat into the night and its what keeps your energy bills high. According to a recently published UCLA report, Mid-Century Warming in the Los Angeles Region, all areas of our region are projected to get warmer while the number of “extreme heat days” is expected to increase substantially. In addition to the human health consequences of extreme heat, residents will soon be finding that they’re paying more just to keep themselves cool and comfortable.

Fortunately, there are ways to keep yourself and your home cool even as temperatures rise. One option is upgrading your standard roof to a cool roof. Cool roofs, which can be applied straight on existing roofs, are roofs that reflect solar waves back into the atmosphere rather than letting these waves be transferred as heat into the building. Made from a variety of materials, cool roofs can be applied on top of nearly any traditional roof surface, including houses, garages, or commercial buildings.

Often found in white, cool roofs are versatile and can be altered according to your needs. Though lighter colors are generally more reflective, cool roofs come in a variety of colors. Even dark colors, like deep blues and blacks, can be reflective when made from appropriate materials.

What are the benefits of a cool roof?

There are many reasons for homeowners, renters, and businesses to consider a cool roof.
  • Cool roofs help save you money – once installed, homes will gain less heat and will request less electricity to cool.
  • Homes and buildings will have an increase in comfort and air quality, as rooms will be naturally cooler and air-conditioning will be turned on less.
  • Incidents of heat-related health issues will decrease, as homes without air-conditioning will stay cooler even on the hotter days and air pollutants will be decreased overall.
  • Saving money over the long-term is easier than ever as cool surfaces can extend the life of the roof, substantially reducing costs over the life of the property. By using less energy, you are reducing the amount of greenhouse gases that are released into the atmosphere.

 

What You Can Do

Cool roofs are compatible with other innovative, money-saving technologies, including solar panels and water catchment systems. Additionally, planting trees adjacent to buildings can also provide added cooling, indoors and outdoors, by providing necessary shade. Organizations such as TreePeople and Million Trees LA are leading projects and initiatives here in Los Angeles that you can take part in.

The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power offers a $.30 per sq. ft. rebate for commercial and residential roofs. This rebate was recently expanded to include all roofs in the City of Los Angeles. For additional information, visit the “Building Products” section of LADWP’s Consumer Rebate Program page

To find more incentive programs to save money and reduce your energy use, watch C-CHANGE.LA for updates. For more about cool roofs, check out these leading organizations: