UV rays and heat from the sun can damage a roof system, causing it to age prematurely. The rays deteriorate the roof’s physical properties, leading to cracks, embrittlement and accelerated aging. Heat can easily make the surface of a black roof reach 170° during the day (compared to 110° with a white roof surface), making air conditioning systems work harder.

However, ENERGY STAR^® qualified roofing systems can reduce the amount of air conditioning needed and can cut energy bills by up to 50%. (For more information, see www.energystar.gov.)

Tremco offers a complete line of white-surface roofing systems that are ENERGY STAR qualified by the EPA. Their exceptional reflectivity will help to lower your energy needs, as well as increase the service life of your buildings.

ENERGY STAR qualified roofing systems help the environment by lowering the Urban Heat Island Index. Urban Heat Islands occur in largely populated areas due to the lack of trees and vegetation and the prevalence of such dark surfaces as roofs, streets and parking lots. Replacing energy-absorbent black roofs with ENERGY STAR qualified white roofs can lower overall area temperatures, which may result in reducing your cooling costs. These roofs may also help reduce smog.

To become ENERGY STAR qualified, roofing systems on low-slope applications must have at least 65% initial reflectivity and 50% reflectivity after three years. For steep slopes, reflectivity must be 25% and 15% respectively.