Cool Roofs!

Read the entire article http://climateresolve.org/hot-city-cool-roofs/

There are many reasons for homeowners, renters, and businesses to consider a cool roof.

•Cool roofs help save you money – once installed, homes will gain less heat and will request less electricity to cool.
•Homes and buildings will have an increase in comfort and air quality, as rooms will be naturally cooler and air-conditioning will be turned on less.
•Incidents of heat-related health injuries and deaths will decrease, as homes without air-conditioning will stay cooler even on the hotter days and air pollutants will be decreased overall.
•Saving money over the long-term is easier than ever as cool surfaces can extend the life of the roof, substantially reducing costs over the life of the property. By using less energy, you are reducing the amount of greenhouse gases that are released into the atmosphere.

What You Can Do

Cool roofs are compatible with other innovative, money-saving technologies, including solar panels and water catchment systems. Additionally, planting trees adjacent to buildings can also provide added cooling, indoors and outdoors, by providing necessary shade. Organizations such as TreePeople and Million Trees LA are leading projects and initiatives here in Los Angeles that you can take part in.

The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power offers up to a $.30 per sq. ft. rebate for residential roofs. This rebate was recently expanded to include more roofs types and applicable products in the City of Los Angeles. For additional information, visit the “Building Products” section of LADWP’s Consumer Rebate Program page.

As of early 2014, all new residential construction (and many major renovations) will be required to install a cool roof. Find out more about the law on our blog.

To find more incentive programs to save money and reduce your energy use, watch C-CHANGE.LA for updates. For more about cool roofs, check out these leading organizations:
•Cool Roof Ratings Council
•Global Cool Cities Alliance
•White Roof Project
•The Cool Roof Company for Commercial Cool Roofs in Los Angeles