Polymer Science: Roofs that Reduce Urban Heat Island Effect

Polymer roofing technology enjoyed a major breakthrough this summer, furthering its pioneering credentials, with scientists at the University of Sydney claiming to have manufactured a roof surface that, even under full summer sun, actually stays cooler than ambient air temperature. What this means is that the notorious "urban heat island effect" common in cities could be drastically reduced, also reducing peak power demand from air-conditioning.

The new surface, created from a special material called a “coated polymer stack” (a combination of readily-available plastics on a silver layer) absorbs only 3% of sunlight, keeping the test roof of the UTS Faculty of Science building an incredible 11°C (or more) cooler than a nearby state-of-the-art "white roof".

The researchers also assessed whether performance might be reduced by additional dew formation and dust build-up on the test roof owing to it being cooler than the surrounding air, but found that despite it being above a busy city road, its “excellent thermal performance” was maintained.

The paper, “A Sub-ambient Open Roof Surface Under the Mid-summer Sun”, co-authored by Dr Angus Gentle, appears in the latest edition of Advanced Science.

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