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Stylized Text: Walls & Roofs.

Walls and Roofs can have an important effect on interior comfort conditions in both the residential and non-residential sectors. Walls and roofs come into direct contact with the exterior environmental conditions. The effect on the interior of the building can be seen in HVAC run time, interior temperatures, energy use. As an answer to these concerns, FSEC can help determine what is useful for both energy efficiency and comfort.

Picture of Overhang.     Picture of White Roof.     Picture of Walls.

Walls

Several factors can be utilized to reduce energy consumption and improve interior comfort conditions. Light colored exterior walls can help to reduce interior temperatures by reducing solar heat gain. In addition, shade trees and bushes can reduce this heat gain.

The portion of the air conditioning and heating use due to gains and losses through walls in most commercial buildings is small compared to internal gains. Therefore, going to extremes on wall insulation is not usually of the highest priority. However, some minimal insulation is recommended to reduce peak loads. For buildings in very cold climates, more heavily insulated walls and windows are generally necessary. Windows are important features of walls. You may want to look at our recommendations for energy-efficient windows.

Roofs

Insulation: Insulation in the attic is important because the attic is a large source of heat gain from the roof. In addition, many buildings have their ducts located in the unconditioned attic space.

Color: Light colored roofs in such a hot and humid environment is highly recommended. Testing has revealed that a white ceramic tile or white metal roof is best. These types of roofs will last 30-40 year compared to the 15 years that is typical of asphalt shingle roofs. These white reflective roofs can lower attic temperatures by up to 25-30 degrees F. Many commercial buildings with central AC have ducts in the attic where there is a significant amount of heat gain. The white roof lowers the attic temperature greatly increasing the air distribution efficiency of the HVAC system.

Skylights are often made a part of roofs. For our recommendations regarding skylights and other roof top lighting, see http://www.fsec.ucf.edu/en/consumer/buildings/commercial/windows.htm.

Overhangs

Before the advent of air conditioning, the typical Florida "cracker" home had large (up to 8 feet) overhangs over surrounding porches to reduce solar heat gain through the walls and windows. With the advent of air conditioning, contractors desired a reduction in first cost by reducing the size of the overhangs. This is also the case with nonresidential buildings. The effect of this has been an increase in solar heat gain and an increase in interior temperatures and thus the need for mechanical cooling. Though some of the added heat gain can be rejected through new high performance multiple pane windows with low-solar-gain coatings and tints, it is still recommended that overhangs be lengthened in order to again reduce the solar heat on walls and windows.

Related Publications:

PF293 Measured Cooling Energy Savings from Reflective Roofing Systems in Florida: Field and Laboratory Research Results
PF337 Comparative Summer Attic Thermal Performance of Six Roof Constructions
CR670 Laboratory Testing of the Reflectance Properties of Roofing Materials
CR868 Florida Exterior Wall Insulation Field Test: Final Report
CR904 Demonstration of Cooling Savings of Light Colored Roof Surfacing in Florida Commercial Buildings: Our Savior's School
CR964 Demonstration of Cooling Savings of Light Colored Roof Surfacing in Florida Commercial Buildings: Retail Strip Mall