Print this page Guidelines for Selecting Cool Roofs
Clint McCann, P.E.
Course Outline
This two hour online course discusses basic information about cool roof materials, their beneficial properties, different materials available, how-to tips for proper product selection, and how to approach a lifecycle cost analysis of the technology. While many benefits of cool roof technology are discussed, the text will also point out circumstances where cool roof technologies may not be the best choice for individual situations. While detailed information regarding cool roof technology, it applicability in specific situations, and full installation procedures are beyond the scope of this course, students will be introduced to the basics of the topic and provided with a list of resources for more information.
This course includes a multiple-choice quiz at the end, which is designed to enhance the understanding of the course materials.
Learning Objective
At the conclusion of this course, students will have been introduced to:
- The benefits of cool roof materials to building owners and operators;
- Environmental benefits of cool roof structures;
- Inherent characteristics of cool roof materials that enable them to remain cool;
- Requirements that must be met in order to attain the cool roof designation;
- How to interpret cool roof material product information;
- Different types of cool roof materials and the benefits of each;
- Key factors involved in the decision to select the cool roof option;
- Cost model comparisons of different roof options;
- Introduction to tools that assist with predicting energy savings associated with cool roof options;
- Discussion of circumstances that may make cool roof implementation less attractive than traditional roofs and where they apply; and
- Industry resources to consult for additional information.
Intended Audience
This course is useful for building owners, facility managers, plant engineers, maintenance professionals, renovation contractors, and building occupants. The course material is relevant for all commercial and institutional buildings where energy savings, roof longevity, and occupant comfort benefits of cool roofs are desirable.
Benefit for Attendee
In this course, students will review the booklet entitled “Guidelines for Selecting Green Roofs”, published by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy Building Technologies Program. The text introduces basic information about the benefits of cool roof materials and provides students with practical guidelines for evaluating cool roof options and how they compare with conventional roof materials in the areas of thermal performance, cost effectiveness, environmental impact, overall functionality, and building occupant comfort. Students will also be presented with potential negative aspects of cool roof materials under certain conditions to assist them with making the most informed decision when selecting roof materials.
Course Introduction
Building efficiency, energy savings, and environmental impact are major concerns for owners, operators, and occupants of businesses, schools, and other buildings used for public purposes. While the main purpose of a roof system is to protect a building from the effects of weather, the selection of appropriate cool roofing materials can have a positive impact on the efficiency of a building’s HVAC systems, reduce hot weather cooling costs, increase comfort levels inside buildings (especially in spaces not serviced by air conditioning systems), and extend the useful life of roofs by reducing the adverse effects of heat. Studies have demonstrated that in direct summer sunlight conditions the temperature of a cool roof system can easily be 50° F cooler than a traditional dark roof system. Available cool roof options present attractive alternatives for those who design, construct, maintain, and operate buildings with an eye toward cost effectiveness, roof longevity, and environmental responsibility.
Course Content
The course content is in the PDF document:
Guidelines for Selecting Cool Roofs
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Course Summary
This course provides students with a basic understanding of what constitutes a cool roof system; how cool roofs work; the types of cool roof options available to building designers, owners, and operators; and methods that can be used to determine if cool roofing is appropriate for individual situations. The course demonstrates that cool roof solutions have the potential for reducing energy bills associated with building cooling, improving indoor thermal comfort levels for interior spaces that are not air conditioned, and decreasing roof temperature (a known factor for deterioration of standard roofing materials.)
Quiz
Once you finish studying the above course content, you need to take a quiz to obtain the PDH credits.
DISCLAIMER: The materials contained in the online course are not intended as a representation or warranty on the part of PDH Center or any other person/organization named herein. The materials are for general information only. They are not a substitute for competent professional advice. Application of this information to a specific project should be reviewed by a registered architect and/or professional engineer/surveyor. Anyone making use of the information set forth herein does so at their own risk and assumes any and all resulting liability arising therefrom.
