"Target is to be commended for its environmental leadership," said Donald S. Welsh at one of Target’s new stores. "Homeowners and businesses are starting to realize that there are economic benefits to protecting the environment."
"Cool Roof" technology coats the roof surface with a reflective material that can lower the temperature of a building’s roof by up to 100 degrees. This produces lower interior temperatures and reduces cooling costs by up to 50 percent, according to the EPA.
Cool Roof coatings are white liquids – the consistency of thick paint – applied over an existing roof structure. They can be applied over a traditional roof to achieve energy savings, an extended life span, and protection from weathering and ultraviolet radiation.
The new surface can last 10 to 20 years, depending on coating quality and the thickness applied. Home and building owners should ensure that the underlying roofing is sound before a coating is applied because the coating is not intended to plug leaks or otherwise improve the structure of a roof.
The technology also benefits the environment. Reduced energy demand means less burning of fossil fuels. That’s a good thing because fossil fuels create the air pollution associated with smog, acid rain, and global climate change. By reducing the amount of energy needed to cool buildings, Cool Roofs help reduce these air pollutants, the EPA says.
In addition to using Cool Roof technology, Target also uses high-efficiency heating and cooling systems in all its stores, uses low water flow plumbing fixtures, uses redesigned light fixtures that use three fluorescent light tubes instead of the standard four and regularly recycles everything from cardboard to shopping carts, according to the EPA.
