Additional Reading
Building a Prosperous Urban Future with Reflective Roofing
This paper, originally appearing in Volume IV of the Proceedings of the CIB World Building Congress 2016, Understanding Impacts and Functioning of Different Solutions, provides building owners, government officials and corporate decision-makers with: (1) the tools to quantify the benefits and costs of reflective roofing; (2) an understanding of the available reflective technologies; and (3) a roadmap for implementing reflective roofing including building and energy code requirements, construction specification requirements, green workforce development and innovative public information campaigns.
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[675 KB]
Sustainable Roofing: Presentation to the Cool Roof Rating Council by Target Corporation and Sika Sarnafil
Target Corp. pursues a comprehensive sustainability strategy in the construction and operation of all its facilities. PVC membrane roofing is a critical element of this strategy. This presentation, delivered by Michael Fenner of Target Corp. and Stanley Graveline of Sika Sarnafil, shares findings from Target’s ongoing monitoring and comparison of the thermal performance of black and cool roofs in Target facilities across the U.S. Target has found that even in northern climates, cool roofs can contribute to net annual energy savings.
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Trading Off Cool Roofs for Insulation
Cool Roof Rating Council Membership Meeting Presentation, Andre Desjarlais (Oak Ridge National Laboratory), July 2012
Zero Waste Roofing – Proceedings of the 2011 International Roofing Symposium
This paper, written by Michael Fenner of Target Corp. and Stanley Graveline of Sika Sarnafil, shares details of Target’s comprehensive sustainability strategy in the construction and operation of all its facilities, including its ambitious goal to achieve zero waste on all new construction and reroofing projects.
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Do Cool Roofs Fit in Cool Climates?
Building Operating Management, March 2004
Tested, Trusted Every Day – Environmental Profile: Vinyl Roofing Membranes
This brochure, a joint publication of The Vinyl Institute and the Chemical Fabrics and Film Association, presents the most recent and reliable scientific data, complete with references, in response to questions about the health and safety of PVC membrane roofing.
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The Facts on PVC and the Environment
This presentation developed by the Chemical Fabrics and Film Association provides a detailed environmental overview of both the material vinyl and vinyl membrane roofing. Specific subjects covered include energy efficiency, air quality, low maintenance and longevity, recycling options and solvent-free PVC membrane roofing application techniques.
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Predictive Service Life Tests for Roofing Membranes
This multi-year study shows that roofing membranes made of thermoplastic PVC outperform most alternative materials in withstanding the elements.
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Vinyl Roofing as a Cool Roofing Solution
Reduced air conditioning demand. Lower surrounding air temperature, or “”heat island”” effect. What building product can deliver both of these features to the environmentally conscious specifier?
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Vinyl Roofing Systems – High Performance Over A Long Life
Vinyl roofing membranes have permanently raised the bar in roofing specification and installation, offering a clean, quick, safe and affordable option to alternative roofing systems.
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Roof Cleaning Guidelines
All exposed low slope roofing membranes get dirty over the life of the roof system from airborne pollutants and dirt.
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Mitigating New York City’s Heat Island with Urban Forestry, Living Roofs and Light Surfaces
Sponsored by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, this 2006 study concludes that light-colored and living roofs have significant potential for reducing air temperature and the resulting energy demand.
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Aging and Weathering of Cool Roofing Membranes
Tests conducted by the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and the National Research Council of Canada conclude that washing a weathered cool roof membrane can result in a practically complete restoration of solar reflectance. From the proceedings of the “Cool Roofing … Cutting Through the Glare” symposium sponsored by the RCI Foundation, May 12-13, 2005, Atlanta, Georgia
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Field Investigation and Laboratory Testing of Exposed Poly (Vinyl Chloride) Roof Systems
This multi-year study looks into the effects of time and weather on PVC roofing membranes and shows that membranes made of PVC generally held up well when withstanding the elements.
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End-of-Service Life Recycling of Thermoplastic Roof Assemblies
This article discusses the current state of the postindustrial and post-consumer recycling of roofing materials. It includes case studies that illustrate what can be achieved in recycling various insulation materials and thermoplastic membranes during construction and at the end of service life.
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Sustainability of Thermoplastic Vinyl Roofing Membrane Systems
This paper positively assesses the sustainability of thermoplastic vinyl roof membranes using the framework developed by The International Council for Research and Innovation in Building and Construction (CIB-RILEM): preservation of the environment, conservation of energy and extended roof life.
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Radiative Forcing and Temperature Response to Changes in Urban Albedos and Associated CO2 Offsets
The study, supported by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center and California Energy Commission (CEC) shows the positive impact of reflective roofing on the urban heat island effect and carbon dioxide emissions.
Recycling Priority of Vinyl Roofing Industry
Building Design + Construction, January 2008
Avoiding the Landfill: The Recycling of Vinyl Roof Membranes
Roofing Contractor, April 2009
Meeting Roofing Needs – Vinyl Addresses a Range of Roofing Requirements
Building Operating Management, August 2007, reprinted with permission
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Design Flexibility with Vinyl Roofing Systems
Determining the degree to which form follows function in a building project is always a balancing act, but with the right materials, aesthetics doesn’t have to take a back seat to all of the other critical considerations involved in designing a building envelope.
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Vinyl Roofing Systems: Questions Answered
Modern Materials, September 2008
Avoiding the Landfill: The Recycling of Vinyl Roof Membranes
Interface, March 2008, reprinted with permission
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PVC Recycling is Now a Reality
by Stanley P. Graveline, Sika Sarnafil, Professional Roofing, December 2007
Manhattan Heat Island Study Available
Architectural Products, October 2007
Roof Reflectivity, Good Design, and Decades of Cool
by Carl De Leon, CFFA Vinyl Roofing Division
Buildings.com Greener Facilities e-newsletter, Vol. 5, Issue 5, May 2007
High-Performance Building with Energy-Efficient Vinyl Roofs
Reprinted with permission. This article originally appeared in the April 2007 issue of Environmental Design + Construction
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Evaluating Vinyl Roofing
Building Operating Management, May 2006, reprinted with permission.
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