As local elected officials, you know, the local authorities are in the front line in the face of climate change, particularly in the face of the increase of the episodes scorching. As the elected representatives have a duty to protect your people and ensure the resiliency of your infrastructure. Whether it’s schools, kindergartens, gymnasiums, EPAHD or social housing, these essential facilities must be able to withstand the waves of heat, without systematic use of the solutions of energy-intensive air conditioning. It is in this context that Cool Roof propose aux collectivités une solution innovante et durable : le cool roofing.
In this interview, Gwendal Evenou, Head of the SSE-Solidarity in Cool Roof, looks back on the challenges you and your technical managers must face, and how our solutions can help you meet them. Combine energy efficiency, social justice and environmental sustainability, it is possible ! It will explain (almost) everything in this interview.
Spoiler alert : to (really) understand our solutions and our services dedicated to the community, we organize the January 16, at 11: 30 a webinar on this topic. Register now !
You want to know more now, ? Here’s what we can already tell you* :
Gwendal Evenou : In Cool Roof, we offer practical and sustainable solutions to help freshen the buildings and reduce the effect of urban heat islands. Our coatings reflective return up to 90 % of the solar radiation, thereby restricting the overheating of the roof and the increase in internal temperatures.
With these solutions, we are helping communities :
G. E. : The local authorities, and in particular the municipalities, are in the front line of the impacts of heat waves. They manage critical infrastructure , such as schools, nurseries, gyms, or social housing, which serve the most vulnerable populations : children, seniors, and families in a precarious situation.
Elected officials are also increasingly challenged by their constituents on these issues. The cool roofing their offers a practical response, fast, and accessible to meet these expectations time , supporting local initiatives of social justice and climate.
G. E. : overheating in summer is a major issue, with serious economic and social consequences. Take schools, for example. from 26°C, the concentration and the learning capacity of children to decrease. This directly affects the equality of opportunity, as the schools most affected are often located in areas of priority.
Gyms, day nurseries and homes for the elderly are not left out : the high temperatures make it more difficult to use, either for sport or reception of vulnerable people. Not to mention that cool these buildings in a systematic manner would be a real bomb climate ticking, because of the carbon footprint that this would lead to.
You’re more of a Team Clim’ ? Here are some statistics that should make you think about the change of shirt (no bath, eh) :
The air-conditioning systems account for about 10 % of the world’s electricity consumption. This share could triple by 2050, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA). The use of air conditioners contributes to about $ 1 billion tonnes of CO₂ emissions per year, or nearly 3 % of global emissions. The number of air conditioners in service in the world increased from $ 1.6 billion in 2018 to a projected 5.6 billion by 2050. This could require as much extra electricity than is consumed today by the United States. The production of electricity necessary for the operation of air conditioners still depends largely of the fossil fuels (coal, oil, gas), contribute to the increase in CO₂ emissions. In France, the air conditioning represents 5 % of the annual electricity consumption, but this figure rises significantly during the peak of summer, causing tension on the network. By rejecting the hot air outside, the air conditioners contribute to increase the outdoor temperature in the urban areas, aggravating the heat island effect. Effect our solutions are designed precisely to fight.
G. E. : An emblematic example is that of the gym Tremblay-en-France. After the application of our coatings Cool Roof, the indoor temperatures have dropped by an average of 6 °C, with peaks up to 11 °C. This solution has significantly reduced the degree-hours of discomfort while saving 29,4 kWh/m2/year. Over 20 years, this represents a reduction of the carbon footprint of 41 kgCO₂/m2.
These results show that our solutions are not only effective from a thermal point of view, but they also allow for significant savings in energy and operational costs.
G. E. : We propose different approaches :
G. E. : Cool roofing responds to the immediate issues :
In addition, our solutions are simple to implement, does not require major construction work and provide measurable results. By combining climate justice and social justice we make it possible for local authorities to act in a responsible and sustainable manner, in the public interest.
G. E. : climate change is one of the major challenges that local elected representatives must respond. They needed to think and act differently. But the good news is that solutions already exist ! With our solution of cool roofing, they have the opportunity to reconcile energy performance, social impact and climate resilience.
* You have arrived at the end of this article ? Bravo !
You already have what to present on the topic at your next meeting of the commission and/or city council. And at the approach of the end of year celebrations, you also have something to feed a discussion o how political, and oh-so-necessary in order to raise awareness 
.
Quelle que soit l’issue de ces discussions, nous sommes curieux d’entendre vos retours. Si la curiosité est un vilain défaut, chez Cool Roof, nous pensons au contraire qu’elle nous permet de rester ouverts et d’avancer, ensemble.
please Visit our webinar : ” The cool roofing, a practical solution to face the challenges of heat waves for the local “, on 16 January, at 11: 30. You can already register for it.
Low-tech innovation for all