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The Energy Technologies Area (ETA) is unique in translating fundamental scientific discoveries into scalable technology adoption. Our approach combines an understanding of the marketplace and the role of state and federal regulation and policies. ETA's research drives real-world, practical results that affect and improve the everyday lives of Americans and those across the globe. Saving energy and battling the Climate Crisis are key to the foundation of our research, which is driven by technoeconomic analysis and in-lab experimentation and discovery.

Preliminary survey of the solar reflectance of cool roofing materials

Publication Type

Journal Article

Authors

Berdahl, Paul H., Sarah E. Bretz

DOI

10.1016/S0378-7788(96)01004-3

Abstract

Air-conditioning energy savings and improved comfort in hot climates can be obtained with the use of roofing materials that reflect solar radiation. Available quantitative information on the solar reflectance of most roofing materials is insufficient, so it is difficult for building designers to choose cool materials. Here we report quantitative values of solar reflectance for a few types of materials and discuss which material properties, such as composition, roughness, purity, etc., affect the solar reflectance. Outdoor temperature measurements on materials in sunlight are used to illustrate the strong correlation of roof temperature with solar absorptance, and further, to demonstrate the effects of infrared emittance and convection.

Journal

Energy and Buildings

Volume

Year of Publication

1997

Notes

0378-7788Added to JabRef: 2010.04.19

Organization

Building Technology and Urban Systems Division, Building Technologies Department, Windows and Envelope Materials, Heat Island

Research Areas

BTUS Cool Roofs and Walls