Chapter 11: Cool Roof Retrofits as an Alternative to Green Roofs

Abstract

Cool roof paint is a practical, low‐cost retrofit option to improve the thermal performance of buildings where there are significant cooling loads. This chapter looks at their viability in a cool‐temperate climate and presents the results of four experiments investigating a CRP roof retrofit of a metal roof; the extension of this data through modelling to test the sensitivity of CRP to changes in shading, roof pitch, insulation levels, insulation location and building‐roof‐to‐surface‐area ratios; the testing of the CRP against a green roof retrofit; and finally the benefit of white roofs on electricity production through photovoltaics. The outcomes show that there is a benefit to CRPs used i..