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 Carlisle recently completed two new tools that you can use to educate building owners and design professionals who are looking for ways to reduce energy costs or address environmental concerns like Global Warming. First is a case study that outlines how an educated building owner capitalized on the energy-efficient benefits of utilizing a dark-colored EPDM roof in a cool northern climate. And second is a 47-page Stanford University study we added to the Energy Saving EPDM section of the website that illustrates how attempting to address Urban Heat Islands by forcing people to use white roofs everywhere regardless of geographic location can actually lead to an increase in Global Warming. Governments and regulators routinely ignore “The Law of Unintended Consequences” however, Mother Nature does not.
Case Study: Major Retailer Lowers Heating Costs with Carlisle EPDM
Staples, an EPA Green Power Partner, recently replaced a failing metal roof atop its New York distribution facility with a new 60-mil, fully adhered Carlisle Sure-Seal® EPDM roof system. The new EPDM roof will help lower the building’s heating costs (estimated to be 5 times their cooling costs) while providing years of unrelenting performance in the harsh New York climate. The new roof system was installed using Carlisle’s Low-VOC Bonding Adhesive, and features an additional 23.5 R-value from newly installed Polyiso and EPS insulation. Click the link above to download the complete case study.
Stanford Study: Effects of Urban Surfaces and White Roofs on Global and Regional Climate
This study, completed in 2011, found that white “cool” roofs may actually increase the earth’s temperature, not decrease it, which is the exact opposite of their intentions. The Stanford Study is much more comprehensive than earlier studies taking advantage of the latest advances in atmospheric computer modeling. You do not need to read the entire 47 pages, but it is important to know where the most valuable information is located. We’ve highlighted two key statements in the study to help you educate building owners or design professionals who are thinking about using a white roof due to unwarranted concerns about Heat Islands especially in colder northern climates. From a practical standpoint Heat Islands are probably a good thing as most of humanity in northern climates consumes substantially more natural resources and money trying to stay warm. First, on page four and five the study found “that white roofs increased space heating in the annual average more than they decreased air conditioning use (which occurs mostly in the summer).” This means that building owners have to spend more money on heating their building with a white roof. Second, on page 21, the study predicted that while white roofs may decrease air temperatures in heavily populated areas, they actually result in increased temperatures globally as they reflect the heat upward that then mixes with black and brown soot particles. Click the link above to download the complete report.
Carlisle and Sure-Seal are trademarks of Carlisle. © 2012 Carlisle.
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