AUTHOR=Ashtari Babak , Yeganeh Mansour , Bemanian Mohammadreza , Vojdani Fakhr Bahereh 

TITLE=A Conceptual Review of the Potential of Cool Roofs as an Effective Passive Solar Technique: Elaboration of Benefits and Drawbacks

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Energy Research

VOLUME=Volume 9 - 2021

YEAR=2021

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/energy-research/articles/10.3389/fenrg.2021.738182

DOI=10.3389/fenrg.2021.738182

ISSN=2296-598X

ABSTRACT=Cool roofs, as feasible and efficient passive solar technique that reduces building energy requirements for cooling and improves indoor thermal comfort conditions, have received considerable attention in recent years and as a result, a number of concepts, methods, and experiences have been developed during the related research. Although some studies have been conducted on this subject in the form of review articles, taking into consideration the large number of publications, there is still a call for some review papers dealing with the potential of cool roofs and providing a thorough report on their energy performance and a detailed summary of their pros and cons on the basis of the relevant studies. On this account, the present review paper, as a qualitative documentary study, aimed at providing an insightful elaboration of general characteristics, operating mechanism, influencing factors on thermal performance, various types and configurations of cool roofs, as well as a thorough report on their energy efficiency. In addition, detailed summary of advantages and drawbacks of this passive solar measure has been developed, as itemized factors corresponded to the codified references. To do so, taking Scopus and Science Direct as two of the key databases in this field, the required data has been collected with a focus on the most relevant publications in the last two decades. The authors believe that this type of review paper could set stage for further development of cool roof technology and also make it possible to rethink how passive solar design can be effectively implemented