GAF, North America’s largest roofing manufacturer, is pleased to announce CREST, the Cool Roof Energy and Sustainability Tool. Available at cool.gaf.com, CREST is a unique tool designed to help contractors, consultants and building owners compare the energy cost savings of different roofing systems options.
Easy to use, mobile-enabled, with preloaded utility cost information by zip code, CREST greatly eases the process of comparing multiple roof design options; varying levels of reflectivity; and multiple thicknesses of insulation. CREST allows the building professional to print a customized report that includes images of the building site from publicly-available, internet-based mapping services, and searches rebates to the zip code level, including hard-to-find municipal and utility rebates, to give a truer sense of the real costs and benefits of different roofing system decisions. A proposal-quality report is generated for immediate free download.
“Our goal is maximum configurability, capability, and ease of use,” says Martin Grohman, Director of Sustainability for GAF. “Some calculators encourage assumptions, such as electric heat in commercial spaces, that are rare in practice.”
Since peak electrical demand often occurs on the hottest days of the year, peak energy loading is very important in modeling the effectiveness of cool roofing. To ease the process of projecting peak energy loads, CREST queries both the Oak Ridge National Labs (ORNL) “CoolCalc” and “CoolCalc Peak” calculators in a single step, using an easy to use app-style format.
CREST was developed in conjunction with GreenOhm, a leading technology company that maintains one of the largest datasets of energy efficiency rebates, incentives and tax credits and easily links this information to provide a complete picture to property owners.
To learn more, visit gaf.com/green.
About GAF
Founded in 1886, GAF has become the largest roofing manufacturer in North America. The company’s products include a comprehensive portfolio of steep-slope and commercial roofing systems, which are supported by an extensive national network of factory-certified contractors. Its success is driven by its commitment to Advanced Quality, Industry Expertise, and Solutions Made Simple for contractors, specifiers, and property owners alike. In 2011, GAF was the first roofing manufacturer to offer a Lifetime limited warranty on all of its laminated shingles and, in 2012, it introduced the GAF Lifetime Roofing System.
With a focus on social responsibility, GAF has developed Advanced Protection® Shingle Technology, which provides superior durability and wind resistance while reducing the use of scarce natural resources. The company has also developed single-ply and asphaltic membranes with superior durability and high reflectivity to meet the most rigorous industry standards while helping commercial property owners and designers reduce energy consumption.
GAF also supports the roofing industry through CARE, the Center for the Advancement of Roofing Excellence, which has provided education to over 125,000 professionals. CARE’s mission is to help professional contractors and distributors build their businesses through sales and management education, and to provide product and installation training to contractors, distributors, architects, property owners, and related industry personnel. For more information about GAF, visit www.gaf.com.
Related Stories
| Oct 28, 2013
Metal roofs are topping more urban dwellings
Given their durability and ease of use, metal roofs have been a common feature on rural houses for decades. Now they’re becoming an increasingly popular choice on urban dwellings as well.
| Sep 24, 2013
8 grand green roofs (and walls)
A dramatic interior green wall at Drexel University and a massive, 4.4-acre vegetated roof at the Kauffman Performing Arts Center in Kansas City are among the projects honored in the 2013 Green Roof and Wall Awards of Excellence.
| Sep 20, 2013
Perimeter roof edge: The first line of defense in a wind event [AIA course]
Aside from the roof membrane itself, the perimeter roof edge is the most critical component of the roofing system. As such, it warrants more scrutiny when designing a roof system.
| Sep 19, 2013
Roof renovation tips: Making the choice between overlayment and tear-off
When embarking upon a roofing renovation project, one of the first decisions for the Building Team is whether to tear off and replace the existing roof or to overlay the new roof right on top of the old one. Roofing experts offer guidance on making this assessment.
| Aug 22, 2013
UL Environment validates first landfill waste diversion claim; GAF demonstrates role as sustainability leader
Leading North American roofing manufacturer GAF has certified its Gainesville, TX TPO Roofing manufacturing facility under UL Environment’s Landfill Waste Diversion claim validation.
| Aug 20, 2013
First look: $550 million Billie Jean King National Tennis Center renovation
The United States Tennis Association has announced its plans for a sweeping transformation of the USTABillie Jean King National Tennis Center that will include the construction of two new stadiums, as well as a retractable roof over Arthur Ashe Stadium. The transformation will be implemented in three phases to begin at the conclusion of the 2013 US Open, with the goal of overall completion by the 2018 US Open.
| Jul 17, 2013
Should city parking space requirements be abolished?
Some cities are deliberately discouraging construction of new parking spaces by allowing the construction of buildings with a lower ratio of parking spaces to dwellings (as low as 0.75 spaces per residence).
| Jul 1, 2013
Firestone Building Products Company LLC Announces Sustainability Report
Firestone Building Products Company, LLC, the leading manufacturer of superior “Roots to Rooftops” products for commercial building performance solutions, today announced the release of its 2012 Sustainability Report. The report, the first for Firestone Building Products Company, covers the fiscal 2012 year and is available for download at firestonebpco.com.
| May 14, 2013
Paints and coatings: The latest trends in sustainability
When it comes to durability, a 50-year building design ideally should include 50-year coatings. Many building products consume substantial amounts of energy, water, and petrochemicals during manufacture, but they can make up for it in the operations phase. The same should be expected from architectural coatings.
| May 3, 2013
5 common failures in paints and coatings
As experienced designers, contractors, and owners know, most paint and coating problems are correctable, but some are especially stubborn to address. Here is a partial compendium of typical failure modes and methods for addressing the problem.
