Financing & Grants

October 4th, 2009 | admin | No Comments

Grant Funds for roofing and capitol Improvement.

CHICAGO COOL ROOFS PROGRAM

COOL ROOFS…how they benefit you and the environment

The roof system of a building is an area where significant heat gain occurs, in particular
on relatively flat exposures to the sun’s position during the warmest period of the day.
Dark colored roof surfaces can also contribute significantly to the urban heat island
effect and smog formation, leading to increased air pollution. Reflective, light colored
“Cool” roofs can not only help reduce cooling costs, but can also have a positive
environmental impact by reducing the urban heat island effect. Light colored roof
materials and coatings are advantageous over dark colors because of their ability to
reflect and radiate energy away from the roof. Here are a few additional cool roof
benefits:

- Reduce cooling costs
- Reduce contribution to Urban Heat Island effect
- Increase life cycle of roof
- Reduce maintenance of roof
- Improve occupancy comfort level

HOW A COOL ROOF IS DEFINED…

Cool roofs are characterized by their ability to reflect and radiate a high percentage of
the sun’s solar flux. This helps prevent the transmittance of heat into the building and
the heating of its surroundings, know as “heat island” effect. Cool roofs have been
confirmed to be up to 60° degrees Fahrenheit cooler than conventional dark colored
roofs.

Heat Flux: the direct and diffused radiation from the sun received at ground level
Solar Reflectance: an index between 0 and 1 that expresses the fraction of solar
flux that is reflected from the material. The higher the value the more solar
energy that is reflected

Thermal Emittance: is the ratio between 0 and 1 that indicates the energy
radiated by a material compared to the energy radiated by a black body at the
same temperature. The higher the value the more energy that is radiated away
from the material.

Download a copy of the application and submit per application Notes

Request an electronic fill form from the Department of Environment at
roofgrants@cityofchicgo.org and submit electronically (preferred)

Questions? Please Call the Department of Environment at (312) 744 – 2994