How the little-known 'dark roof' lobby may be making US cities hotter
a year ago
- #energy efficiency
- #urban planning
- #climate change
- Tennessee repealed its reflective roof requirement for commercial buildings, citing consumer choice, despite concerns over increased energy costs and heat-related illnesses.
- Industry lobbying, led by manufacturers of dark roofing materials, has successfully rolled back cool-roof regulations in multiple states, including Tennessee, Denver, and at the national level.
- Scientific evidence supports light-colored roofs for reducing urban temperatures, energy use, and heat-related deaths, but industry groups dispute these findings.
- Baltimore passed a cool-roof ordinance in 2023 despite opposition from industry groups arguing against its effectiveness in colder climates.
- Homeowners like Owen Henry in Baltimore and Brian Spear in Arizona have experienced significant benefits from installing reflective roofs, including lower energy bills and cooler indoor temperatures.
- Industry lobbyists have successfully influenced policy changes, including weakening Denver's cool-roof ordinance and preventing stricter national standards.