Atlanta mandates cool roofs on all new buildings

Atlanta recently became the latest major U.S. city to require new buildings to install reflective roofs as a cooling strategy.

Experts say cool roofs are a simple, relatively cheap, and effective way to mitigate the impact of extreme heat in urban areas. Other cities, including Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York, have also passed cool-roof ordinances, but many of the mandates only pertain to flat roofs.

Atlanta’s ordinance covers all roofs including sloped ones. An easy way to add reflectivity to a flat roof is to apply a coat of white paint. Manufacturers also make special cool roof shingles that reflect more sunlight, and these can be used on sloped roofs.

The Smart Surfaces Coalition estimates that Atlanta’s new building code will cool the city by 2.4 degrees Fahrenheit during peak summer temperatures, and by as much as 6.3 degrees in the hottest neighborhoods. Over a 35-year period, the ordinance will result in $310 million in energy savings, the coalition estimates.