by Shane Henson — September 30, 2011—Owens Corning recently announced that its Duration Premium COOL Roof Shingles and Deck Defense High Performance Roof Underlayment have been used to re-roof the Advanced Light Source (ALS). The ALS, a particle accelerator that generates X-rays for research, is housed under the iconic dome built by Nobel Prize winner Ernest Orlando Lawrence for his 184-inch cyclotron in the 1930s. The facility is located at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab).
When faced with re-roofing the ALS due to shingles blowing off the dome, Berkeley Lab consulted the Rated Products Directory of the Cool Roof Rating Council for the shingles that would deliver high solar reflectance and good performance, Owens Corning’s management said. In addition to the Duration Premium COOL Shingles’ ability to reflect sunlight and reduce urban heat island effect, the ALS is protected by Owens Corning Roofing and Asphalt Deck Defense underlayment, providing long-term protection for the roof by reducing water intrusion.
Owens Corning Duration Premium Cool shingles meet California Title 24 Cool Roof and initial solar reflectance of 0.25 for ENERGY STAR requirements. Cool roofs utilize highly reflective granule technology that bounces back the sun’s rays and helps keep roofs cooler. This can result in lower carbon dioxide emissions and help reduce the urban and suburban heat island effect, which, in turn, can help reduce smog. In addition, these shingles have SureNail Technology built in, which allow the shingles to be warranted to 130mph wind protection.
“As a leading building materials innovator, we have tremendous respect for what the ALS represents in terms of its place in building science history,” said Frank O’Brien-Bernini, VP and chief sustainability officer for Owens Corning. “While our solutions are usually installed on homes or commercial buildings to improve performance, aesthetics and durability, it is exciting to see an application that is part of preserving an iconic structure known for housing achievements of outstanding science and sustainability.”
Facilities managers across the United States and abroad planning to have certain buildings re-roofed may also benefit from using Owens Corning’s energy-saving commercial products and services.
