Check out what FAB is about and learn about other orgs they partner with in the video below, our ED Heather James pops up around 2:10.

She’s been travelling the country promoting her new book:

Green Washed: Why We Can’t Buy Our Way to a Green Planet

Available on Amazon:

The message that our environment is in peril has filtered from environmental groups to the American consciousness to our shopping carts. Every day, millions of Americans dutifully replace conventional produce with organic, swap Mr. Clean for Seventh Generation, and replace their bottled water with water bottles. Many of us have come to believe that the path to environmental sustainability is paved by shopping green. Although this green consumer movement certainly has many Americans consuming differently, it raises an important and rarely asked question—is this consumption really any better for the planet?

By examining the major economic sectors of our society, including infrastructure (green housing), consumer goods (green clothing), food (the rise of organic), and energy (including solar power and the popularity of the hybrid car), Green Washed: Why We Can’t Buy Our Way to a Green Planetexplains that, though greener alternatives are important, we cannot simply buy our way to sustainability. Rather, if it is the volume of our consumption that matters, can we as a society dependent on constantly consuming ever be content with buying less?

A new and unique take on green consumption, Green Washed shows how buying better is only the first step toward true sustainability.

Kendra recently appeared on CSPAN on a panel on Waste Disposal and she name dropped White Roof Project towards the end! Thank you Kendra! You can watch the panel discussion HERE!

TEDx gives us the opportunity to bring together both leaders in their fields and undiscovered talent within our communities. TED talks, have become synonymous with forward thinking and innovation, join us, as we bring the spirit of both to Seton Hall University. We are honored to present this year’s speakers and look forward to hearing their response to “What’s Next.”

Do you know a building owner who’s been inspired to paint their roof white? Let us know!

Download the Pdf and read the report here:

NYC-Cool-Roof-Legislation-Local-Law-21

Int. No. 347-A
By Council Member Garodnick, Brewer, Chin, Comrie, Fidler, Gentile, Gonzalez, James, Koppell, Lander, Mark-Viverito, Nelson, Palma, Sanders Jr., Vann, Williams, Rodriguez, Gennaro, Van Bramer, Levin, Lappin, Recchia, Vallone, Crowley, Jackson, Koo, Wills, Barron and Greenfield

A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York and the New York city building code, in relation to roof coating standards.

Be it enacted by the Council as follows:

Section 1. Legislative findings and intent. The Council finds that the use of cool roofs as a mitigation strategy for the “urban heat island effect”– the tendency of urban areas to be hotter than their suburban surroundings because of dark absorbent surfaces and a lack of vegetation–can result in lower energy use and reduced air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, while at the same time improving health and comfort in warm weather. A cool roof transfers less heat to the building below so that the building stays cooler and more comfortable during the summer, resulting in the use of less energy for cooling. A cool roof coating also increases the durability of the roof membrane because it is subject to reduced thermal cycling amplitude and UV radiation. At the same time local climate and site specific factors play a role in the amount of savings achieved. Cool roofs result in energy savings when they are most needed, during very hot summer periods subject to peak electrical demand. The disadvantages over the heating season, known as the “winter penalty”, have been found to be minimal in studies of New York City’s installations.

The Council further finds that studies show that North Atlantic states with relatively long heating seasons may nonetheless benefit and reap net savings from cool roofs because of high electricity costs in places like New York City. On a global level, implementing the proposal will also help combat global warming, because light is reflected into space rather than being turned into heat, which is then trapped in the CO2 blanket. Further, to the extent that energy demand is lessened, it can result in fewer air emissions and air quality related environmental diseases. New York City began addressing these issues by incorporating a requirement for white roofs in its last code cycle. Therefore, the Council finds that it is in the best interests of New York City to strengthen its roof coating standards to require the use of more reflective and emissive materials.

§2. Section 28-101.4.3 of the administrative code of the city of New York is amended by adding a new item 11 to read as follows:

11. Alterations involving the recovering or replacing of an existing roof covering shall comply with section 1504.8 of the New York city building code unless the area to be recovered or replaced is less than 50 percent of the roof area and less than 500 square feet.

§3. Section BC 1504.8 of the New York city building code, as added by local law number 33 for the year 2007, is amended to read as follows:

1504.8 Reflectance. Roof coverings on roofs or setbacks with slope equal to or less than [three] two units vertical in 12 units horizontal ([25] 17 percent) shall [be white in color or EnergyStar rated as highly reflective for at least 75 percent of the area of the roof or setback surface.] have:

1. a minimum initial solar reflectance of 0.7 in accordance with ASTM C1549 or ASTM E 1918, and a minimum thermal emittance of 0.75 as determined in accordance with ASTM C1371 or ASTM E 408; or
2. a minimum SRI of 78 as determined in accordance with ASTM E 1980.
Exceptions:

1. Terraces on setbacks comprising less than 25 percent of the area of the largest floor plate in the building.
2. [Green roofs] Any portion of a roof covered by a green roof system, including such a system with agricultural plantings, in compliance with Section 1507.16 [shall be permitted to comprise part or all of the 75 percent required area coverage].
3. [Roofs] Any portion of a roof used as outdoor recreation space by the occupants of the building [shall be permitted to be either] that is landscaped, covered by wood decking or covered with a walking surface or other protective surface, provided that such walking surface or protective surface has [with an albedo of 30 percent or greater] a minimum initial solar reflectance of 0.3 as determined in accordance with ASTM C1549 or ASTM E1918.
4. Ballasted roofs, provided that the ballast has a minimum initial solar reflectance of 0.2 as determined in accordance with ASTM C1549 or ASTM E1918.
5. Any portion of a roof that is under mechanical equipment, flush mounted solar panels lying directly on the roof surface, duckboarding, decking, platform, roof tank, cooling tower or any other rooftop structure or equipment exempted by rule by the commissioner.
6. Any roof or portion of a roof composed of glass, metal, clay or concrete tile or plastic/rubber intended to simulate clay or concrete tile, wood, or slate.
7. Any portion of a roof used by a school or daycare center as a playground for children.
8. Any roof, if the amount of rooftop space not subject to exceptions 1 through 7 is in the aggregate less than 100 square feet.

§4. Section BC 1510.1 of the New York city building code, as added by local law number 33 for the year 2007, is amended to read as follows:
1510.1 General. Materials and methods of application used for recovering or replacing an
existing roof covering shall comply with the requirements of Chapter 15.
Exception: Section 1504.8 shall not apply if the area to be recovered or replaced is less than 50 percent of the roof area and less than 500 square feet.

§5. The list of referenced standards of ASTM (ASTM International) as set forth in chapter 35 of the New York city building code is amended by adding, in appropriate numerical order, new standards ASTM C1371 – 04a(2010)e1, ASTM C1549 – 09, ASTM E408 – 71(2008), ASTM E1918 – 06, and ASTM E1980 – 11 to read as follows:
ASTM
ASTM International 100 Barr Harbor Drive West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959
Standard reference number
Title
C 1371 – 04a(2010)e1 C 1549 – 09 E 408 – 71(2008) E 1918 – 06 E1980 – 11 Standard Test Method for Determination of Emittance of Materials Near Room Temperature Using Portable Emissometers Standard Test Method for Determination of Solar Reflectance Near Ambient Temperature Using a Portable Solar Reflectometer Standard Test Methods for Total Normal Emittance of Surfaces Using Inspection-Meter Techniques Standard Test Method for Measuring Solar Reflectance of Horizontal and Low-Sloped Surfaces in the Field Standard Practice for Calculating Solar Reflectance Index of Horizontal and Low-Sloped Opaque Surfaces
§6. This local law shall take effect on January 1, 2012.
3/29/2011 5:45 pm

It’s ok though, because we think that they are awesome!

Thank you Heather for sharing your beautiful photos!

Have you seen a white roof in your travels? Many warm climates have always embraced lighter color building materials to ward off the heat!

Share your travel pics with us email Taylor (tpineiro [@] whiteroofproject.org) or post on our Facebook!

We are seeking junior board members and coordinators and grant research volunteers to help make White Roof Project run. Join an exciting team of nonprofit entrepreneurs for a one year minimum commitment. Be a real part of the discussion and be part of our success.

Download a Coordinator Application and review open coordinator positions below.

_______________________

Coordinators

Coordinators are non-voting individuals whose interest and commitment level mirrors that of a traditional nonprofit board. Coordinators commit to a term of one year and are provided excellent opportunities to learn from the regular board while being treated as equals in a young organization with an open structure and receptive leadership. Coordinators participate in the ongoing functions of the White Roof Project and play an important role in sustaining the organization.

Events Coordinator – Responsible for assisting WRP Events Director with all fundraisers. Preferably this person should have local contacts for vendors of all types, be innovative and able to think on his/her feet, be available to work at all events and have experience planning events for non-profit organizations previously in NYC.

Deputy Institutional Funding Coordinator – responsible for finding grants and communicating their deadlines to the ED. This person will use their own discretion to determine the appropriateness of various grants and will also help review applications in process. This position provides an excellent platform for learning and working with WRP grant writers.

Deputy Social Media Coordinator – responsible for assisting with social media outreach,including Facebook, Twitter, and any others deemed strategically useful to the organization. The Deputy Social Media Coordinator will work closely with the Board Member responsible for social media and will assist with outreach to membership and relationship-building with the press, elected officials, and other grassroots organizations.

Communications Coordinator – responsible for media outreach, messaging, and the distribution of information to the press. The Communications Coordinator will work closely with the Social Media team and Board Member assigned to political outreach to ensure consistent messaging.

Chapter Operations Coordinator – responsible for communications with groups interested in chaptering, including answering questions and concerns of those spearheading WRP projects outside New York City. This person will work directly with the Founder and the WRP legal team.

Web Developer – responsible for assisting the Founder with website maintenance and updates as well as the expansion of internal web capacity.

Grant Research Volunteers - White Roof Project is also seeking several grant research volunteers to help grow the organization. Grant researchers will have the chance to be part of a committed group of activists and will work closely with WRP’s leadership.

A friend recently sent us this picture of white roof tops in Brooklyn’s Fort Green these houses are roughly between Flatbush av., Myrtle Av., Tillary st. and N Portland Av.

Beautiful sight!