Sustainability

Mitigating the Heat: Cool Roofs

“The technology is already available. Do both, if you will, but just do it.”

Our founding partner, Farizan, weighs in on the adoption of Cool Roof technology in CNA’s Money Mind episode on Singapore’s property market.

Cool Roofs, as the name suggests, help keep buildings and its occupants cool. This is due to the Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect, a phenomenon resulting in warmer urban environments. Cool Roof coatings reflect more sunlight than conventional paints, reducing internal building temperatures. Similarly, Cool Roofs help to cool the environment as well. Reflecting more sunlight reduces the amount of heat transferred from the roofs to the air, lowering urban air temperatures and lessening the UHI effect. In essence, the higher the solar reflective index of roof paints, the more effective it is in cooling the environment.

Yet, different Cool Roof coatings have different Thermal Emittance and Solar Reflective Indexes. The best suitable Cool Roof coating is usually costlier than conventional paints, thus raising feasibility concerns in adopting them everywhere.

While challenges to ensure that Cool Roofs benefit all will always be present, Farizan notes the importance of integrating them in current sustainable energy plans. Companies may choose to adopt Cool Roofs alongside air conditioning, given feasibility challenges. Yet, as Farizan emphasises, embracing sustainable energy begins now, as new technologies emerge.

Watch the full episode here (timestamp 15:18 to 16:05)

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