Look for the Star
Most roofing contractors want to save money, time, and resources for commercial building owners. It’s how they show pride in their work and develop future referrals. A new federal program aimed at energy conservation just may be the answer for roofing professionals.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), in partnership with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), has developed a program to promote the use of products that help save energy. A new aspect to this program, which began in January 1999, awards the Energy Star label, the symbol of energy efficiency, to roof products that meet or exceed solar reflectance without compromising product quality and performance.
“The core [purpose] of the Energy Star roof program is to have a label that gives consumers confidence. That label has to be based on a set of criteria that essentially set a product in the upper 25 percent or so of efficiency in that particular market”, says Mark Ginsberg, deputy assistant secretary for Building Technology, State and Community Programs at Washington D.C.-based DOE.
In general, products – which also include appliances, HVAC equipment, office equipment, and lighting – reduce energy costs by at least 30 percent. Within the roofing arena, it’s a reflective roof product that lowers roof surface temperature by up to 100 degrees F., thereby decreasing the amount of heat transferred into a building’s interior.
Energy Star labeled roof products save money and energy by reducing the amount of air-conditioning needed to keep building occupants comfortable.
To appreciate the benefits of the Energy Star label program, it is important to understand the causes and effects of global warming. In the United States, 90 percent of the energy generated comes from burning fossil fuels, which in turn creates the air pollution associated with smog, acid rain, and global climate change. Reducing the amount of energy needed to cool buildings also reduces the production of these air pollutants.
Additionally, reflective roof products help reduce the heat island effect – a phenomenon in which cities can be two to eight degrees F. warmer than the surrounding countryside. Such heat islands occur, in large part, because large numbers of buildings and paved surfaces are designed using dark materials that absorb heat from the sun.
This storage of heat is released at night, disallowing a decrease in air temperature. The result of these prolonged elevated temperatures leads to:
EPA/DOE’s Energy Star roof specifications are not restricted to any particular type of roof product. However, at least initially, EPA/DOE expects metal, single-ply membrane, and roof coating products will be most widely represented.
Energy savings from installing Energy Star-labeled roof products will depend on the geographic location and climate where a system is to be installed, the existing insulation levels in a building, the existing type of roof, the type of roof to be installed, and how well a system is kept clean and maintained. In general, savings achieved through a reduction in energy used for cooling can be as high as 50%. Additionally, a reflective roof can reduce peak cooling demand by 10 to 15 percent. As a result, building owners may be able to purchase smaller, less expensive HVAC systems. Obviously, buildings located in hot, sunny climates will realize the greatest energy and cost savings as air-conditioning use is greater.
In general, building owners will save the most money on energy bills by having their contractors install an Energy Star-labeled roof product if their building has the following characteristics:
The most cost-effective time to install an Energy-Star-labeled roof product is during re-roofing, construction of new buildings, or application of a coating. However, when installing a reflective roof, building professionals should also ensure an optimal level of insulation is also installed.
Due to normal wear and tear, some degradation of roof reflectivity can be expected, particularly within the first few years after installation. Flat roofs may accumulate more dirt and debris because their slope is not great enough to allow washing by rain. Following maintenance procedures minimizes degradation and maximizes energy savings.
To learn more about recommended maintenance procedures and schedules, consult roofing product manufacturers and/or other roofing professionals.
As part of this voluntary program, manufacturers sign an agreement with EPA called a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), allowing them to place the Energy Star label on the packaging of compliant roof products. These manufacturers can also use the label in product promotions and advertising for qualified products. “If a product doesn’t carry the label, I would want to know why”, says Ginsberg. “It doesn’t add any extra costs; it is the kind of thing that conscientious companies are putting on their products. Then, the only thing you’re comparing is the cost between the two Energy Star-rated products.”
In conjunction with the energy saving these products provide, Ginsberg points out that utilities across the country are offering extra incentives for specifying Energy Star-labeled products. “In addition to the coasts, Commonwealth Edison in Chicago has signed on in support of Energy Star products.”, he says.
Tags: Energy Star
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