Cool roofs could fight Atlanta's rising heat
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
Illustration: Lindsey Bailey/Axios
The Atlanta City Council will decide Monday whether the shingles you slap on your roof should also keep you and your neighbors cool.
Why it matters: A lush tree canopy and fancy parks that catch stormwater are only some of the ways Atlanta could blunt the effects caused by climate change.
- Adapting to a changing environment will include changing the way we build.
How it works: Dark-colored roofs can become hibachi grills on hot Atlanta days and absorb heat, contributing to what's called the urban heat island effect.
- Lighter-colored roofs can reduce the roof temperatures by as much as 50 degrees, according to the U.S. Department of Energy, reducing your power bills and making your block a little more livable.
Zoom in: Under the legislation, new commercial and residential construction in Atlanta would have to use so-called "cool roof" materials like lighter-colored asphalt tiles or higher-tech reflective materials.
- Metal and tile roofing and lighter-to-medium gray and brown asphalt shingles are already compliant. Jet black shingles, however, would be prohibited.
Full roof replacements and new roofs must comply with the standards. Patch roof repairs would not be impacted.
What they're saying: "The science behind it shows that if we hit 80% coverage it would actually reduce the city's overall temperature by 2.5 degrees," Council member Liliana Bakhtiari, who introduced the proposal, told her colleagues during last week's Council Utilities Committee.
- "This will be extremely beneficial in the long run and tackling it now before climate issues get worse ensure more cost-effective measures down the line."
Yes, but: Some Council colleagues questioned the change's potential impact on homeowners and contractors and construction costs, including much-needed housing.
- "It seems to me that new regulations are rarely cost-neutral and reducing options of choices doesn't drive costs down," Council member Howard Shook, who represents parts of Buckhead, said.
The intrigue: Bakhtiari's proposal is part of the Council's consent agenda, a package of legislation usually approved unanimously at the beginning of every full meeting.
- A council member can request anything be removed from that agenda for discussion and a separate vote, however.
What's next: If approved, the Georgia Department of Community Affairs must review the changes because the measure would strengthen existing standards.
- The city's Office of Buildings would have 90 days to update the city's permitting process.
Editor's Note: This story has been corrected to show dark-colored roofs absorb (not reflect) heat.