(187e) Roofing Materials As Effective Means to Decrease Heat Loads On Buildings

With the energy cost rising 11.7 % seasonally adjusted annual rate (SAAR), companies and people are concerned about their energy cost and consumption. One environmental friendly option is to explore different roofing materials such as white thermoplastic polyolefin (TPO), TPO with river rocks, TPO with marble chips, and green roofs, and their use as an alternative to reduce the consumption of energy in existing and new buildings. In our research activities, 15 miniroofs were examined over more than 3 years for the temperatures exhibited within each roof for reducing energy consumption. Data reading from the sensor will be collected every 10 minutes by a computer installed in the Facilities Management Department. Each sensor sends a signal with the reading and this reading is recorded to monitor the thermal and the runoff performance.

This project is a collaborative effort involving UAB’s Facilities Management Department and the Department of Civil, Construction and Environmental Engineering. Fifteen mini roofs were constructed using diverse roof materials and data will be collected in terms of energy efficiency. Energy reduction using reflective roofs and green roofs will also be discussed and evaluated. It is anticipated that white roofs reduce the amount of energy consumption about 20% compared to green roofs. Preliminary results indicate that clean white roofs resulted in consistently lower temperatures inside the mini roofs than the other roofing materials, while black roofs resulted in the highest temperature readings. However white and green roofs both significantly reduce the roofs surface temperature and therefore the air temperatures above and around the roof, thereby reducing the heat load being transferred into the building

We will determine the statistical variables for different roofs materials (mean from internal temperature associate with roof materials, standard deviation, T-test, Z-test) and we will determine the Type I and Type II error. We will determine which roof material is more energy efficient. Temperatures inside and outside of the mini roofs will be used to determine the thermal performance of the mini roofs. This will be done in order to determine which roofing material is the most energy efficient. A comparison and contrast between white roofs and green roofs will be conducted.