The effect of solar reflectance, infrared emissivity, and thermal insulation of roofs on the annual energy consumption of single-family households in México

Thermal building simulations were carried out for the climate conditions of 20 cities in México. We analyse the effects on energy consumption of variations in solar reflectance (SR), infrared emissivity (IE), and thermal insulation (TI) of a roof’s exterior surface. We quantify the maximum potential reduction in air conditioning annual electricity consumption and the most appropriate combination of optical properties to achieve this in every locality. We systematically varied the SR, IE, and TI of the exposed rooftop of a reference building. TI has the greatest energy-saving benefits when the optical properties of the roof are inadequate. The largest effects of SR and IE on energy consumption occur in countries with temperate climate dominated by energy requirements for cooling. In México, these cities are located in thermal zones 1 and 2, and it is within these zones that cool roof standards are recommended.

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