Cool Metal Roofing Overview

A perfect storm is forming as the convergence of major political forces, energy efficiency demands, increasing code stringency and global ecological concerns create instability in our nation.  This storm of activity will actually create unique opportunities for Kynar 500^® based prepainted metal roofing.

The Kyoto Protocol raised the awareness of the need for controls and limitations on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from countries all over the world.  GHG are a direct result of the generation of fossil-fuel based power that is used by the building sector to heat, cool and light structures.  Buildings are responsible for 48% of all greenhouse gas emissions - more than the transportation sector and the industrial sector.

As such, improving energy efficiency of buildings in the way they are designed, operated and renovated is becoming more important.  The roof can be the least energy efficient component of the building envelope, and as such, the use of cool Kynar 500 based prerepainted metal roofing can make a major contribution to energy efficiency of the entire building.

Prices of energy continue to rise, and are expected to do so into the foreseeable future. Electricity is the main form of energy used by buildings, and as rate caps are removed throughout the nation, significant price hikes are being reported.  Finding ways to reduce the consumption of electrical energy through conservation measures, energy efficiency and better design of buildings will be paramount to accomplishing this.

To address the energy and environmental issues at hand, energy codes and building codes are becoming more stringent, raising the performance standards of buildings. The International Energy Conservation Code, ASHRAE and other national or state codes and standards organizations are requiring buildings to conform to even more reduction in heat/cooling energy consumption.

Sustainable building design, taking into account the whole building’s impact on the environment now and in the future, is at the cornerstone of the building construction industry. Architects and designers are considering sustainability in most if not all new building projects.  Again, the use of a cool Kynar 500 based prepainted metal roof can lower the Carbon Footprint of a building by significantly reducing the heat gain into the space below the roof, and maintaining the cool properties for decades with retained solar reflectance.

The building construction market is beginning to make the connection between simple reduction in energy as a cost savings to the building owner, and the direct reduction in GHG emissions at the power plant generating the energy for the building.  With the introduction of carbon offsets, green tags, and carbon tradeoff programs, buildings that now perform below a specified level of GHG emissions  can actually benefit from the sale of the offsets and realize additional revenue.  The monetizing of the environmental benefit is part of this new carbon economy. 

The federal, state and local governments are recognizing the issues of our time and in many cases, introducing new legislation, executive orders, code requirements, or tax incentives to promote the use of energy efficient materials and practices in the construction of public and even private buildings.  For example, in many states and major cities, some level of LEED-NC certification is now required for new public buildings.  The use of a cool Kynar 500 based prepainted metal roof can directly or indirectly contribute up to 15 points in the LEED program.

A cool Kynar 500 based prepainted metal roof on a building can also be financially rewarding to the builder or building owner.  State and federal tax incentives in the form of tax credits or tax deductions are available when an Energy Star labeled Kynar 500 based prepainted metal roof is installed on a home, or when a cool Kynar 500 based prepainted metal roof is part of a building’s design to improve energy efficiency.  In some states and localities, the local utility company can offer rebates or credits for the use of a cool Kynar 500 based prepainted metal roof that meets the requirements of the respective program.  In the residential market, a cool Kynar 500 based prepainted metal roof can actually improve the appraised value of a home, and increase its resale value.  In certain states, it can also make the home eligible for discounts on homeowner insurance owing to its superior hail resistance.