Introduction
A cool roof is essential for every home especially where the daily temperatures are exceptionally high. A cool roof is an important aspect in any construction to ensure that more sunlight is reflected to avoid excessive heat as compared to a standard roof. While installing a roof, it is necessary for a builder to consider the climatic conditions of the particular area so that it may favor the inhabitants when extreme weather is experienced.
Roofing material technologies
After a review of the types of roofing available for the Corvallis, Oregon area, it is apparent that there is need to explore a less explored type of roofing. One of ideal roofing technologies is the green roof roofing. (Darkwa, Kokogiannakis and Suba, 2013). The factors to consider while choosing the best roofing material to reduce house temperature include temperature fluctuation of the materials, the rate at they reflect more sunlight and absorb less heat and the surrounding climatic conditions.
The other consideration is if the type of the roofing will be flat, steep or sloppy. Finally, to best roofing materials should be cost effective and even durable. One of the best and effective roofing materials to consider in Oregon is the green roof. It effectively controls the variation in temperature from inside and the outside. In an instance where the housing condition was tested in an actual scenario, the difference in temperature for the outside and the outside differed with a 3.30 C. Room conditioning can be provided where the temperatures are at the highest. The soil can reduce the temperature by about 1.60C (Darkwa, Kokogiannakis and Suba, 2013).
Green roofing
Green roofs are made are made of strong structures to support a non-specified planting medium soil usually 400 mm thick. Green roofs have been designed with an ability to maximize on thermal and hydrological performance. Due to high temperatures experienced in summer, it is necessary to choose the most appropriate cooling method to deal with the problem. Cooling systems like fogging, fan-pad method and misting, are used on greenhouses and utilize similar principles hence can applied to design cooling effects in houses.
In green roofing, the structure and the design play a significant role in allowing the penetration of natural light while minimizing direct radiation to control house temperature. This is by aligning double gazed walls pre-painted with aluminum profiles and main entrances to face east to allow sufficient natural light.
Green roofs reduce temperature through solar reflectance. By reflecting more light, green roofs are able to regulate the temperature of the building more effectively than the traditional roofing materials.
Green roofs also reduce temperature through emittance. This is radiating excessive heat absorbed by the roof. Due to its higher emittance values, the roof effectively emits much of the excess heat keeping the interior of the building cool. In addition, they have a higher solar reflectance index hence higher capability of remaining cool for longer hours despite the temperature from the sun (Garrison et al, 2012).
The advantage of this type of roofing is that it is less expensive. It is highly effective in temperature balance while creating aesthetic beauty, and even optimizes the use of domestic water waste. Often, when used for household roofing, vegetables and other light foodstuffs could be grown on rooftops to supplement the dietary (Getter and Rowe, 2006).
Conclusion
It is important that further studies be conducted to establish the effects that come with the different types of soils used for this purpose, the plant types that are locations that are more favorable, as well as materials that can be used and utilize technology effectively. Green roof technology is the best for the Oregon region among other areas as it serves as a source of beauty, provides the dwellers with a good temperature in the house and promotes efficient use of available resources in terms of wastewater, money and even land.
References
Helmy, M. A., M. A. Eltawil, R. R. Abo-shieshaa, and N. M. El-Zan. 2013. Enhancing the evaporative cooling performance of fan-pad system using alternative pad materials and water film over the greenhouse roof. Agric Eng Int: CIGR Journal, 15(2): 173－187.
Darkwa, J., Kokogiannakis, G., & Suba, G. (2013). Effectiveness of an intensive green roof in a sub-tropical region. Building Services Engineering Research and Technology, 34(4), 417-432.
Getter, K. L., & Rowe, D. B. (2006). The role of extensive green roofs in sustainable development. HortScience, 41(5), 1276-1285.
Garrison, N., Horowitz, C., Lunghino, C. A., Devine, J., & Beckman, D. S. (2012). Looking up: how green roofs and cool roofs can reduce energy use, address climate change, and protect water resources in Southern California. Natural Resources Defence Council.