Los Angeles strengthens commitment to cool roofs

Mayor of Los Angeles Antonio Villaraigosa has directed the Department of Building and Safety to incorporate cool roof requirements in its building code. Mayor Villaraigosa is also asking the Department of Water and Power (LADWP) to create incentives that make it financially attractive for homeowners to install cool roofs.

Cool roofs are already mandated in California's Building Energy Efficiency Standards (Title 24) as well as its Green Building Standards Code (CALGreen), but city-specific requirements could match or surpass the reflectance requirements of those statewide standards.

Villaraigosa made this decision following his appearance at the Hot City, Cool Roofs Conference convened by Climate Resolve in Los Angeles on March 8. This event also featured Heat Island Group researchers discussing cutting-edge research and outreach on cool roof products and progress in LA and throughout California.