Assignment directions You will explore the concept of the cool roof, which involves using new technologies to combat the urban island heat effect and lower a homeowner’s energy costs. You will summarize what you learn in a brief report.

Assignment guidelines
Start with the Web page “Cool Roofs”, which is sponsored by the U. S. Department of Energy. Feel free to search for more articles on your own.

Your report will consist of the following four sections:

A summary of what a cool roof is and its benefits
How traditional roofs can be converted to cool roofs
An exploration of some areas of the world that have used the concept of the cool roof in their traditional architecture and building practices, along with an image or two that you find online that illustrates the concept. Use your findings to answer the question: Where are these areas located and why are cool roofs part of their tradition?
A paragraph in which you examine some roofs in your neighborhood, determine whether or not they fit the definition of a cool roof, and your opinion on why cool roofs are or are not popular in your area.
Submission requirements:
Your report should be at least 750 words long, but feel free to write more. Insert the image(s) you find online into section C. (To copy a photo online, you can often right-click and choose “Save.”) Your report should be a minimum of four paragraphs, but it may contain more. If you consult any additional Web sites for information, please include the names and URLs at the end of your report. Use complete sentences and proper grammar and spelling throughout.