Comparison of different simulation programs in modeling the energy savings of cool roofs

Abstract

The Roof Savings Calculator is a web-based application first developed in 2010 that uses detailed building energy simulations to calculate the energy savings of cool roofs for different building types in over 200 U.S. locations. Although modeling the heat flows of a roof may be straightforward at first glance, modeling the energy savings due to changes in the roof albedo is complicated because it involves modeling the interzone heat transfer between the attic and the conditioned space below. Since direct measurement of energy savings is also problematic, the authors have decided to compare what several independent detailed simulation programs show for the energy savings from cool roof strategies.