Title 24 Cool Roofing: An Overview
Cool roofs can cut a building’s energy costs by reflecting solar heat and reducing the heat absorbed through the roof. The benefits have proved to be so substantial that a cool roof has become a prescriptive part of the State of California’s energy standards. In this blog, roof replacement contractor Cosmic Renovation & Roofing shares a closer look at what Title 24 cool roofs are.
What Is Title 24?
The California Title 24 Building Energy Efficiency Standards, or simply Title 24, is a part of the California Code of Regulations that sets energy efficiency standards for new and existing buildings. It also incorporates the preservation of the indoor and outdoor environmental quality. In addition to cool roofs, it also includes standards for windows, insulation, and ventilation and others.
The California Energy Commission is required by law to update, adopt, and implement these standards every three years. The standards have to be cost-effective relative to the building’s expected life span, which, in a residential setting, is typically 30 years. In addition to energy savings, the standards aim to improve indoor comfort, increase electricity supply reliability and help preserve the environment. Local standards for residential solar roofing has been approved and adopted in several cities in California since 2017.
What Makes a Roof a Cool Roof?
A cool roof features a reflective surface that reflects sunlight, which helps reduce the amount of heat absorbed through the roof and reduce the building’s indoor cooling requirements. White single-ply commercial roofing is perhaps the most recognizable example, as TPO and similar kinds of material usually come in white. Other roofing products such as asphalt shingles may have reflective coating instead of a light color. A cool roof should also be able to emit already-absorbed heat, something that shiny or metallic surfaces can’t do.
To qualify as a cool roof in compliance with Title 24 standards, the roofing products need to be tested by the Cool Roof Rating Council (CRRC). This applies to single-ply membrane roofing, asphalt shingles, sheet metal and roof coatings. Once tested, the product will be listed in the CRRC’s Rated Product Directory.
Cosmic Renovation & Roofing is your leading provider of Title 24 compliant roofing systems, as well as solar services. Give us a call at (877) 653-9899 or fill out our contact form.
