Sustainable Roof Design: More Than A Black-And-White Issue May 15, 2009 SUSTAINABLE ROOF DESIGN: MORE THAN A BLACK-AND-WHITE ISSUE SAMIR K. IBRAHIM CARLISLE SYNTEC INCORPORATED 1285 Ritner Highway, Carlisle, PA 17013 Phone: 717-245-7000 • Fax: 717-960-4485 • E-mail: ibrahim@syntec.carlisle.com S Y M P O S I U M O N B U I L D I N G E N V E L O P E […] Read More
Paving Systems Over Plaza waterproofing Membranes: The Importance of Membrane-Level Drainage May 15, 2009 Introduction Subsurface drainage in any paving system is critical to its long-term performance, particularly in freeze-thaw climates. “Paving” is a broad term that includes both continuous (i.e., asphalt or Portland cement concrete) and unit paving systems (i.e., brick, stone, or precast concrete pavers, installed either in an open-joint configuration or with filled joints). While each […] Read More
Energy-Efficient Roof Designs with Single-Ply Membranes May 15, 2009 EDITOR’S NOTE: This article is reprinted from the Proceedings of RCI’s 23rd Inter – national Convention in Phoenix, AZ, March 2008. ABSTRACT Energy-efficient building design is becoming increasingly important as energy costs continue to escalate. In addition, energy efficiency is one of the primary building blocks for sustainable and green building design. This paper will […] Read More
Project Profile: Innovative Roofing Inspires Solar Energy Collaboration May 15, 2009 The Solar Evolution The success of the wine industry can be credited largely to one vast, natural resource: the sun. The flavors, aromas, and overall intensity and varietal character of each wine are directly influenced by the vineyard’s climate, soil, and weather conditions – all of which are affected by the sun. Within the past […] Read More
Benefits of Cool Roofs on Commercial Buildings May 15, 2009 INTRODUCTION Cool roofing is “hot.” It is a frequent topic in trade magazines and at roofing symposia. Sales of various cool roofing products outpace the overall market year after year. Manufacturers expend significant development resources working on the radiative properties of their materials, looking to improve their market positioning and share. With all the talk […] Read More
How Does a Thin-Film PV System Affect Cooling Loads on a Building? May 15, 2009 ABSTRACT Using calculated cooling loads and calculated energy generated by a photovoltaic (PV) system, it was determined that the additional cooling load caused by a thinfilm PV surface requires no more than 2.5% of the electricity generated by the PV system itself. The added cooling load is due to the lower solar reflectance (SR) of […] Read More
Navigating Metal Roofing System Reflectivity Specifications May 15, 2009 As green building continues to evolve from a “movement” to a widely accepted practice in both the low- and steep-slope roofing markets, demand for sustainable system design has grown along with it. For roof consultants and specification professionals, this upsurge is changing how they evaluate materials and design for energy efficiency. In the 2008 Autodesk/AIA […] Read More
Condensation Problems In Cool Roofs May 15, 2009 ABSTRACT In some regions of the United States, socalled “cool roofs” have become mandatory in order to save cooling energy in summer, and it is expected that these roofs will also become more widespread in other parts of the world. A cool roof uses a bright surface to reflect incident solar radiation, which significantly lowers […] Read More
The Hidden Risks of Green Buildings: Why Building Problems are Likely in Hot, Humid Climates May 15, 2009 The great irony of building green is that the very concepts intended to enhance a building’s performance over its entire lifetime are many of the same things that make a building highly susceptible to moisture and mold problems during its first few years of operation. While green buildings have many positive benefits, there is also […] Read More
Development of Energy Ratings for Insulated Wall Assemblies April 26, 2009 DEVELOPMENT OF ENERGY RATINGS FOR INSULATED WALL ASSEMBLIES HAKIM ELMAHDY; WAHID MAREF; MIKE SWINTON; HAMED SABER; AND ROCK GLAZER INSTITUTE FOR RESEARCH IN CONSTRUCTION/ NATIONAL RESEARCH COUNCIL OF CANADA 1200 Montreal Road, M-24, Ottawa, ON, Canada K1A 0R6 Phone: 613-993-9752 • Fax: 613-998-6802 • E-mail: hakim.elmahdy@nrc.ca S Y M P O S I U M […] Read More
