Roof solar reflectance and cooling energy use: Field research results from Florida

Traditionally, architects have recognized that reflective building colors can reduce building thermal loads. Experiments in Florida have examined the impact of reflective roof coatings on air conditioning energy use in a series of tests on occupied homes. The experiments were conducted on nine residential buildings from 1991 to 1994 using a before and after test protocol where the roofs were whitened at mid-summer. Measured air conditioner electrical savings in the buildings during similar pre-and post-weather periods averaged 19%, ranging from a low of 2% to a high of 43%. Utility peak coincident peak savings averaged 22% with a similar range of values. Cooling energy reductions appear to depend also on initial ceiling insulation level and roof solar reflectance, air duct system location and air conditioner sizing

Towards Zero Energy Demand: Evaluation Of Super Efficient Building Technology With Photovoltaic Power For New Residential Housing

The performance of a project designed to test the feasibility of designing and testing efficient residential buildings with integrated photovoltaic (PV) generation systems was reported. The objective of project was to demonstrate the ability to reduce space cooling loads and to bring the house utility coincident peak demand close to zero. When the PV electric generation was included during the peak period, the PVRES home net demand was found to be 199 W