Cool roofs

A cool roof is like wearing a white t-shirt on a hot day. When the sun shines on a dark t-shirt, it gets hot because the color absorbs a lot of the sun's energy. But if you wear a white t-shirt, it reflects most of the sun's energy and it doesn't get as hot.

Similarly, a cool roof is a roof that is designed to reflect the sun's energy instead of absorbing it. This helps keep the building underneath cooler, which can make it more comfortable to be in and can also reduce energy costs for air conditioning.

There are different materials and methods that can be used to make a roof cool. Some roofs are painted a light color or coated with reflective materials. Others may use specialized shingles or tiles that are designed to reflect more sunlight.

Cool roofs are becoming more popular because they can help reduce the "urban heat island" effect in cities. This is when cities are overall hotter than surrounding rural areas because there are so many dark surfaces (like roads and buildings) that absorb heat from the sun. By using cool roofs and other reflective surfaces, cities can reduce the amount of heat that is absorbed and make their environments more comfortable and sustainable.