A match made in heaven: Cool roofs and solar panels

By Emma Peterson.

Learn how combining these two innovative technologies not only helps the environment, but also the building owner’s bottom line.

Topps Products, the industry-leading provider of roof coating solutions, offers a variety of cool roof coatings. These products unite Topps’ high-performance coating quality with reflectivity that helps both the environment and the building owner’s wallet. Now, more than ever, investing in solutions like this is imperative. 2024 was officially the warmest year on record with global temperatures rising 1.5°C (2.7° F) above pre-industrial levels. As a result, we have seen more symptoms of the climate crisis, such as frequent heat waves and extreme weather events.  

Investing in climate-resilient infrastructure, like cool roofs, is a great way to mitigate this crisis at the same time as extending the lifespan of a roof, lowering maintenance costs and reducing air conditioning costs. The Cool Roof Rating Council (CRRC) reports, “The average energy savings for a cool roof range between 7% to 15% of total cooling costs. A cool roof can also help prolong the life of an air conditioning system by reducing the strain on the system during hotter times of the day and year.” These coatings are able to create these savings by reflecting UV rays, and the heat that comes with them, more effectively. In addition to the air conditioning savings, this reflectivity extends the overall roof’s lifespan by avoiding UV-related degradation. So, not only does it save building owners money every day, but it also can save them money over all the years it is on their roof.  

The savings and benefits of cool roofs are undeniable, but for those wanting to take it to the next level, the combination of solar panels with these coatings has been proven to save even more energy. A study published in Applied Energy found that, “For reflective roofs, there is a 3.4% increase in annual yield, suggesting that cool roofs are well suited to improve [solar] yield... Put into context for the electricity demand of an average, four person Swiss household (equal to 5000 kWh/year [60]), the surplus electricity simulated in the case study could represent approximately 28% of the annual household electricity consumption.” Not only does this energy production improvement help the environment as it offers a renewable alternative source, but it also helps the local infrastructure by taking strain off of power grids and can lower individuals’ electricity costs.

For those interested in this proven combination, Topps provides great product offerings. In addition to their cool roof coatings, they have a division focused on solar energy production, Topps Solar Energy. The entire focus of this division is “to offer a comprehensive range of services designed to meet renewable energy needs.” Their offerings include energy optimizing solar energy systems, cool roofing solutions (using their parent company Topps’ products) and daylighting solutions. By reimagining what our roofs look like, and designing with cool coatings and solar in mind, we can not only create more sustainable, environmentally friendly structures, but increase energy efficiency, reduce electrical costs and improve the quality of life for those in and around the building.