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Council considers cool-roof standard to reduce urban heat; medical and public-health groups urge adoption
Summary
A proposed amendment to Atlanta's building code would add roofing reflectance standards to promote 'cool roofs.' Public-health groups and building-science advocates testified in favor; the proposal moved forward as a referral item with multiple council co-sponsors.
Council members advanced legislation to add roofing reflectance standards to the Atlanta building code, a measure authors say would lower urban heat and yield energy cost savings for homeowners.
Supporters said cool roofs reduce energy use and ozone formation and would provide health benefits to vulnerable residents. Dana Thompson, representing the American Lung Association, said the association "strongly supports the city of Atlanta's building code to add a new section for roofing reflectance standards to reduce heat through the promotion of cool roofs," noting cool roofs "will reduce urban heat, reduce air pollution, including ozone, and protect the health for all Atlanta residents, especially its most vulnerable including the young, elderly, and those living with lung disease."
Dr. Jimmy Smith, president of the Georgia Public Health Association, told the council extreme heat "is now known as the deadliest weather related hazard in The United States" and urged favor for the ordinance because smart surfaces and reflective roofs "build climate resilience and improve public health by mitigating extreme heat." Supporters also said compliant roofs can reduce building cooling costs; the bill's drafters cited a 4-5% HVAC savings for compliant homes.
The ordinance was presented as a referral (paper 20501310) to be considered in committee. Council member Liliana Bakhtiarri, an author of the paper, said the measure had been worked on for more than a year and that tile and metal roofs already meet the proposed standard. On first reading, the proposal was amended to add additional signatories, including Council member Mary Norwood.
Why it matters: Urban heat islands increase health and energy burdens for older residents, outdoor workers and low-income households. Proponents said cool roofs are a cost-effective tool to reduce local temperatures and ground-level ozone formation.
Next steps: The measure was placed on the council docket for referral to the appropriate committee and further consideration.
