A southern city is turning to an innovative yet remarkably simple solution to excessive summer heat: cool roofs.
The Grist reports that Atlanta has recently passed legislation that requires all new roofs to be more reflective. The changes won’t be immediate; existing roofs don’t have to be painted white just yet, but new buildings and replacement roofs are subject to the new law. The new roofs could cool the entire city by an average of 2.4 degrees Fahrenheit and as much as 6.3 degrees in the hottest neighborhoods.
Another notable feature of the cool roof ordinance is the estimated $315 million in energy bill savings the city will realize over the next 35 years. The new roofs won’t cost any more than traditional ones and may actually be cheaper, and they’ll last longer because the roof won’t suffer the same wear and tear under the heat. Greg Kats, the founder CEO of the nonprofit Smart Surfaces Coalition, said:…