"NYC Cool Roofs"

Mayor Bloomberg and former Vice President and founder of the Alliance for Climate Protection Al Gore launched a NYC service initiative, “NYC Cool Roofs,” a volunteer program to coat the rooftops of participating buildings with reflective, white coating to reduce cooling costs, energy usage and greenhouse emissions.

Cool Roofs can reduce roof temperatures by 60 degres and indoor temperatures by 10 to 20 degrees. "NYC Cool Roofs" program mobilizes volunteers to coat building rooftops.

The program will help the city achieve PlaNYC goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 30 percent by 2030.

The City’s new building code, enacted by the Bloomberg Administration in 2008, requires most new roofs built in New York City to have 75 percent of the roof area covered with reflective, white coating or to be ENERGY STAR® rated as highly reflective.

New Yorkers interested in giving back by working to reduce greenhouse gas emissions can become an NYC Cool Roofs volunteer by visiting www.nyc.gov or calling 311. Building owners and homeowners that wish to reduce their own energy costs and reduce their own carbon footprint, can also visit www.nyc.gov or call 311 to learn how to coat their own roof with reflective, white coating.

Read the press release