Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Cool Roofs topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Atlanta to launch smart-surfaces portal, promote cool roofs to cut heat and energy costs
Summary
City staff said Atlanta will create a 90-day portal through City Planning to list approved reflective materials as part of a 'smart surfaces' effort to expand cool roofs, parking-lot and roadway reflective treatments; staff said the measures are cost neutral and could reduce utility costs and heat exposure.
A Staff member, City staff, said the City of Atlanta will create a 90-day portal through City Planning to list approved reflective materials as part of a “smart surfaces” initiative that aims to expand cool roofs and reflective treatments for parking lots and roads.
The staff member described the project as a multi-department effort that began with “smart surfaces coalition calls” more than a year ago and has involved advocacy groups, the Home Builders Association and subject-matter experts to shape legislation and implementation. “Over a year ago, the city started having these calls called smart surfaces coalition calls. And we began working with different departments, throughout the city of Atlanta to begin tackling this issue,” the staff member said.
The initiative will include a 90-day period during which City Planning will establish an online portal listing approved reflective materials, the staff member said, and the city will work with the Home Builders Association over the coming year to build demand and availability for reflective tiles and other materials. “Well, first, there's gonna be a 90 day period where, city planning will set up a, a portal that shows all approved materials, and we will be working with the Home Builders Association over the course of the year, giving it lead up time to make sure that we're building the demand so that reflective materials, reflective tiles are more readily available in our region,” the staff member said.
The staff member characterized the measures as cost neutral and said they expected reduced HVAC usage to lower utility costs over time, noting an estimated payback window. “...we have shown that it's it's cost neutral, and we'll be working with them to make sure that it's implemented responsibly and correctly over the next year so we don't overburden our already burdened market,” the staff member said. The staff member also said the materials could “pay for itself in the first 2 to 5 years.”
During the remarks the staff member cited a city research figure about broad adoption: “Our research has shown that if our city reached 80% cool roofs, it would actually lower the city's overall temperature by 200 degrees,” the staff member said. That claim was presented by the staff member as part of the rationale for expanding reflective surfaces.
The presentation emphasized coordinating implementation to avoid supply shocks and to give local builders lead time. The staff member thanked City Planning, the advocacy community and the Home Builders Association for their roles and said the speaker believes the legislation will reduce energy burden and help prevent displacement. “It really is a monumental piece of legislation that I do believe will end up saving lives and keeping people housed so they aren't displaced by energy burden,” the staff member said.
No formal motion or vote was reported in the provided transcript excerpts. The explicit next steps stated in the remarks are administrative: City Planning to set up the portal within a 90-day period and continued outreach with the Home Builders Association and advocacy partners during the subsequent year to guide implementation.
