The bright white Duro-Last® Cool Zone® membrane has an established history of providing environmental benefits to commercial, institutional, and industrial buildings throughout North America.

The Cool Zone roofing system is an ENERGY STAR® labeled product, with an initial reflectivity of 87.5%, based on ENERGY STAR testing criteria. Reflectivity is the percentage of the sun’s energy reflected by a surface. Another important measurement of membrane performance is emittance – the percentage of absorbed energy that amaterial can radiate away. The Cool Zone system’s total emittance is measured at 95%. These reflectivity and emittance figures are among the highest in the industry.

The resulting energy savings and positive impact on reducing the urban heat island effect are just the beginning. Duro-Last has long been on the forefront with respect to producing environmentally friendly roofing systems. Read on to learn how the white Cool Zone PVC membrane is the best green choice for your facility in many ways, proving Duro-Last's leadership on the sustainable buildings front.

The Duro-Last Cool Zone roofing system has an excellent environmental reputation. From lowering a building’s energy consumption to helping facilities obtain LEED® credits to reducing the urban heat island effect, the Cool Zone system is a leading sustainable building product.

• Our tightly-controlled manufacturing process ensures that scrap generated during the manufacturing process is recycled back into roofing membrane or other construction materials. In fact, Duro-Last recycles scrap from numerous companies, encouraging them to join us as environmental stewards. Plus, Duro-Last has implemented a roof recycling program for PVC membranes that are at the end of their useful roofing lives. This keeps waste out of landfills and reduces the need for virgin feedstock used in a number of construction products – including new roofing membranes.
• A growing emphasis on reducing a building's carbon "footprint" is creating emerging carbon trading markets. A reduction in energy consumption provided by the Cool Zone membrane may provide economic benefits for building owners in this new arena.
• The term "sustainability" implies long-term performance, and many Duro-Last roofs have been performing effectively for more than 20 years. The Cool Zone roofing membrane is resistant to chemicals, fire, and high winds, and this proven durabilitymeans that a Cool Zone roof will last longer in harsh environments than many other systems.
• PVC, which is among the most studied building materials, is as environmentally friendly as other building products, according to the US Green Building Council, and may be better than some materials that have been less scrutinized.
• The Cool Zone membrane is lightweight, so it can often be installed over existing roofing systems, eliminating costly and landfilling tear-offs. It also requires less fuel to transport to the job site than other, heavier materials.

Installing a Garden Roof.


Completed Garden Roof

Energy costs continue to escalate with no end in sight, and this trend is largely responsible for driving a significant market shift toward energy-efficient roofing systems.

• Cool roofs are effective in virtually all climates. Building owners in some areas have seen a 40% reduction in energy consumption during peak times of the year after installing reflective roofing systems.
• In non-conditioned space, reflective roofing can reduce workspace heat, improving working conditions and increasing employee productivity.
• The Cool Zone membrane reflects damaging ultraviolet and infrared rays of the sun that are absorbed by other systems. Penetrating UV and IR rays can degrade the effectiveness of insulation and other building components — often leading to higher operating and maintenance costs.
• When placed on rooftops with reflective membranes, HVAC units have a smaller "degree difference" of the air they need to cool because the ambient temperature is lower than on dark-colored roof surfaces. This decreases the cooling load as well as unit wear and corresponding maintenance costs. A Cool Zone roof may also enable the use of smaller, lower-cost HVAC units.

White Equals Green Brochure - View