Living in the scorching climate of North Las Vegas, you can substantially decrease your energy consumption and increase your comfort by having a cool roof. Compared to a standard roof, a cool roof reflects much more sunlight and absorbs much less heat. On a sunny day, a cool roof can be 30 to 50°F cooler than a standard roof. This not only helps keep your building more comfortable but also decreases the size of the air conditioning system you need to cool your space. And, as you know, in this part of the country, the energy used to power the air conditioner is a significant part of your electricity bill.
One well-liked and effective cool roofing material is reflective paint or cool roof coatings, which can be used on existing roof surfaces. These coatings come in different colors and types to match the various kinds of roofs found in the area (asphalt shingle, metal, tile, etc.). They not only reflect a significant amount of solar energy, but they also shield roof surfaces from UV radiation, protect roof surfaces from roof-reduced urban heat island effects, and do all of this with a limited initial investment. In North Las Vegas, we also see a good bit of tile roof cool roofing; tile roofs, whether made of clay or concrete, allow for the kind of air circulation that keeps the roof surface cooler. And there are metal roofs. Metal roofs are good candidates for cool roofing, too.
In addition, single-ply roofing, such as TPO (Thermoplastic Olefin) and PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride), makes excellent cool roof options due to their naturally reflective surfaces. These membranes are most often used on flat and low-sloped roofs. They make a very durable roof system, and they're energy efficient. I don't know if this has been said yet, but the next one is good. Green roofs, which every roof with a slope of less than 2.5% is a candidate for, offer good absorbance. A green roof is either: 1. An extensive roof covering with a thin layer of soil that supports a small amount of native/unusual-life vegetation that doesn't require much water—a Sedum roof, for instance. 2. An intensive roof covering with a deep layer of soil that supports a small number of different plants that do require more water and light—a green roof that's filled with ferns and mushrooms, for example.
