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Policy Solution

Cool roofs

Lead by Example

Case Studies

Summary

Cool roofs are designed with materials that reflect more sunlight than conventional roofs, reduce building heat retention, and in turn reduce the urban heat island effect. Cool roofs can reduce internal building temperatures by up to 30%.

Implementation

Demonstrate public commitment to and impacts of cool roofs by installing or retrofitting on planned and existing publicly-owned property.

Considerations for Use

Areas with cold winters will trade-off reduced heat retention during warmer months with increased heating needs and moisture buildup during colder months. Cool roofs work best in areas with uniform building heights. Shorter buildings may cause glare on taller buildings. Depending on the treatment applied, cool roofs lose some surface reflectivity over time. The cost of coating materials will vary based on selected coating and local availability. Integrating cool roofs in new construction is more cost effective than a retrofit, but cool roofs are still one of the most affordable and approachable retrofit measures.

Overview

  • Climate:

    Hot/Dry, Hot/Humid, Temperate

  • Policy Levers:

    Lead by ExampleGovernments have ownership and jurisdiction over a range of assets (e.g. buildings and streets) and also serve as a direct employer, and contractor. This allows them to promote heat risk reduction and preparedness solutions and demonstrate their impact through leading by example with proactive interventions to make their assets, employment opportunities, and contracts heat-resilient.

  • Trigger Points:

    Evaluating or initiating major city infrastructure projectsIncludes projects such as city transit, street or utilities construction / re-construction etc.
    No-regrets actions (low cost/low effort but substantial benefit)Interventions that are relatively low-cost and low effort (in terms of requisite dependencies) but have substantial environmental and/or social benefits.
    Planned new developmentIncludes Greenfield or brownfield development or new construction
    Substantial rehabilitationIncludes the re-development or major renovation projects.

  • Intervention Types:

    Buildings and Built Form

  • Sectors:

    Buildings

Case Studies

Impact

  • Target Beneficiaries:

    Heat-vulnerable communities, Residents

  • Phase of Impact:

    Risk reduction and mitigation

  • Metrics:

    Energy savings by building, Indoor air temperature reductions, Number of buildings compliant with provision, Outdoor ambient air temperature

Implementation

  • Intervention Scale:

    Building

  • Authority and Governance:

    City government, State/provincial government

  • Implementation Timeline:

    Medium-term (3-9 Years)

  • Implementation Stakeholders:

    City government

  • Funding Sources:

    Public investment

  • Capacity to Act:

    High, Medium

Benefits

  • Cost-Benefit:

    Low

  • Public Good:

    Low

  • GHG Reduction:

    Medium

  • Co-benefits (Climate/Environmental):

    Reduce greenhouse gas emissions

  • Co-benefits (Social/Economic):

    Improve the public realm, Save on utilities