Graduation Year
Spring 2012
Document Type
Open Access Senior Thesis
Degree Name
Bachelor of Arts
Department
Environmental Analysis
Reader 1
Char Miller
Reader 2
Richard Elderkin
Terms of Use & License Information
Rights Information
© 2011 Jeremiah M. Steuterman
Abstract
The energy efficiency of a building is directly related to the heat transfer between the building and the outside environment. In order to limit the heat transfer to the building by solar radiation cool roofs have been developed which increase the solar reflectivity of roofs. This report investigates the potential application of high reflectivity coatings to roofs at Pomona College and the energy benefits that could result. Cool roofs are used to address two prevalent environmental concerns: high cooling loads and Urban Heat Islands. These two problems are linked and exhibit the potential micro and mesoscale benefits of reducing roof surface temperature. Cool roofs are part of a larger set of solutions to tackle these two issues and so must be considered in the context of the multitude of other mitigation measures. This report discusses the ways in which a cool roof affects a building envelope and Urban Heat Islands, and what this means in the context of Southern California and Pomona College. Due to the already energy efficient clay tile on most Pomona roofs, the gains from reflective coatings would be limited. However there are several flat roofs on campus that could benefit from the application of a reflective coating. These benefits would come in the form of cooling energy cost reduction to individual buildings. These benefits would not be so drastic as to necessitate immediately applying reflective coatings, but flat roofs should be updated with an energy efficient coating as part of regularly scheduled resurfacing
Recommended Citation
Steuterman, Jeremiah M., "Cool Roofs at Pomona College" (2012). Pomona Senior Theses. 48.
https://scholarship.claremont.edu/pomona_theses/48
Comments
Senior thesis submitted in December 2011.