Combining shortwave reflectivity and evaporation in a novel rooftop solution for urban cooling

Key Points

• This research aims to evaluate the cooling effect and water storage capacity of a novel hybrid roof design compared to traditional green roofs.
• Tested a hybrid roof prototype against a green roof in urban conditions.
• Assessed water storage capacity and ambient cooling effects based on albedo values.
• Conducted the first evaluation of WUFI’s green roof module using actual flux measurements.
• Hybrid roof showed a superior cooling effect compared to the green roof.
• The hybrid roof's water storage capability was significantly higher than that of the green roof.
• In most climates, the hybrid roof with an albedo of 0.45 performed similarly to a cool roof with an albedo of 0.7.