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Cool roof opportunity
Overview
This layer shows the potential increase in reflectivity if existing dark roofs were replaced with cool roofs. Values are calculated for each 100-meter grid cell and represent the change in average reflectivity of the surface area as a whole, not just to roofs.
Function
To identify where cool roofs could most increase surface reflectivity and contribute to reducing urban heat.
Source
WRI
Data sources
WRI OpenUrban, Sentinel-2
Spatial resolution
100 meter
Spatial coverage
Selection of global cities
Temporal resolution
static
Temporal coverage
Current
Cautions
The cool roof opportunity layer is an estimate of the potential for implementing cooling infrastructure. It assumes that all roofs can be resurfaced with cool roofs and uses reflectivity values associated with widely available materials—0.28 for low slope (< 2/12 pitch) and 0.62 for high slope. Additionally, roof slope is only available in U.S. cities—roofs are all assumed to be low slope elsewhere. This data useful for understanding where the highest gains are possible.