What besides energy savings justifies solar radiation control for low-slope roofs?
The savings in annual energy costs, demand costs (if applicable) and other cost savings need to be weighed against the local cost to purchase and install the coating or membrane system. The focus in this fact sheet is on protective coatings or membranes with reflective materials (such as aluminum or titanium dioxide) that are added to save on energy needed to cool buildings under the protected roofs. The other cost savings associated with the protective nature of the coating or membrane system may be more significant than the savings in annual energy costs, especially outside a cooling-dominated climate. Protective coatings have a long history of use before air-conditioned buildings with cooling energy requirements became commonplace. These products range from low viscosity, non-fibered coatings for penetrating primers and damp proofing coatings to high viscosity, heavy-bodied cements for adhering waterproofing membranes and components and for patching and repairing leaks. In the middl
