By Lauren White. 

The CRRC Annual Summer Meeting updated, educated and inspired from the ground up. 

With a view of Las Vegas on the 51st floor of the Palms Casino and Resort, the Cool Roof Rating Council (CRRC) Annual Summer Meeting kicked off on the morning of June 5, 2024! With record attendance, over 80 people flew from 23 different states, Puerto Rico and Washington D.C., to Las Vegas to hear updates regarding pavements, financials, wall ratings, international outreach and more. RoofersCoffeeShop® was honored to be one of the Silver sponsors of the event. Other sponsors include: ACE Laboratories and TOPPS Products Inc. as Platinum sponsors; Duro-Last, Climate Resolve, Western Colloid, Covia and MACOMA as Gold sponsors; Westlake Royal Roofing Solutions and DOW as Silver sponsors. 

Attendees represented a range of professionals from state energy offices, laboratories, distributors, codes and compliance divisions, universities and even Google! Some companies in attendance included: Sherwin-Williams, IB Roof Systems, Johns Manville, Malarkey Roofing Products, General Coatings, Western Colloid, Polyglass, ARMA, 3M, GAF, ACE Laboratories, among others. 

After breakfast and an opportunity to network and meet new people, we kicked off the day introducing ourselves, approving the minutes from last year and received administrative updates. This meeting is an opportunity for board members, CRRC members and staff, and interested individuals to get an overview of what the CRRC has been up to over the year – and it’s been a busy one! Between the Ratings Codes and Standards Committee submitting proposals to the ICC, IECC, among others, an update regarding technical research and the difference between Rapid Ratings versus the three-year aged ratings and what that means for rating potentials, the CRRC isn’t slowing down anytime soon! 

It was a full day but a few committee update highlights included: 

• CRRC Roof Directory standards – In order for a product to be on the CRRC Roof Directory as an actively rated product, it must be validated every seven years. Products are constantly required to be evaluated on their effectiveness and reflectivity. 
• Pavement rating program – Pavement is roughly 30% of urban surfaces and other than trees, cool pavements have the greatest UHI (Urban Heat Island) reduction potential due to the fact that pavement is a dark, heat trapping surface. The CRRC is working on creating a pavement rating program. 
• Accredited Independent Test Labs (AITL) – In order to be a CRRC-approved laboratory, they must be ISO/IEC 17025 accredited, attend laboratory training, submit all required documentation, maintain test methods on accreditation scopes and participate in biennial Interlaboratory Comparison Study (ILC). These AITLs are independent from manufacturer and distributors. Currently there are seven approved Roof AITLs with the goal of CEPT University in Ahmedabad, India being the eighth AITL this year. CEPT University is a multidisciplinary think tank and Stacy Weister, CRRC technical manager, will be traveling to India this summer to train with them. 

Education and outreach 

Education and outreach continue to be a large focus of the CRRC. Everyone in this room is familiar with what’s happening with this program, but there are still many out there who aren’t. If people knew that the information regarding standards, ratings, and more are available from an independent, third-party program, they’d use it. So, you’ll be seeing more podcasts, webinars, articles and outreach from the CRRC team to continue to get the word out and spread the cool news! 

Part of that education is through the CRRC continuing education program. This program is now available on the AEC Daily platform and is the 14th most popular course on that platform. This program is registered with 28 U.S. and Canada organization that provide CE credits, including: AIA, BGCI, NAHB, IIBEC. Another part of their outreach includes a STEAM educational curriculum for middle schools. After realizing that most of their educational materials are geared towards professionals, and in an effort to educate the general public, the CRRC realized that schools are a great platform to start the conversation and educate about cool surfaces. The goal of this curriculum is to help them learn about solar absorbance, urban heat, cool surfaces and the role architectural surfaces play in mitigating the effects of heat. Part of the curriculum is a series of three videos and we were some of the first people to have a sneak peek of one of them!  

Marty Hastings Award 

The Marty Hastings Award was started in 2011 to honor Marty Hastings, a longtime CRRC board member and contributor. The recipient of this award is someone who makes great contributions to the CRRC and their efforts. The 2024 recipient is George Daisy who currently serves on the Technical Committee and has previously been involved in a variety of ways including being a CRRC board member and serving on the Education Committee. In addition to the award, a monetary donation is made to a charity of the recipient’s choice. Mission Teens, Inc. was the charity George chose and is a program that helps people overcome their addictions. There are 20 centers around the U.S. for this full residency program. 

International outreach update 

Last year, India was identified as being a massive potential market for cool roofs and walls based on the pace of new building construction and the amount of cool roof requirements at the state level and engagement form the national government. Phase 1 started in December 2023 and wrapped up in February 2024 and included identifying and meeting with key stakeholders, discussing collaboration and resource needs and strategic actions with stakeholders. In-person meetings were also held with national and state governments, technical stakeholders like universities and labs, in addition to civil society and the industry overall, focusing on tile and metal manufacturers. Phase 2 will include continuing to advance stakeholder relationships and integrate CRRC into local initiatives, identify and secure funding to provide advice and technical support to stakeholders.  

Guest speakers – Cooling from the ground up 

City of Phoenix experience with cool pavement coatings 

Ryan Stevens with the City of Phoenix presented a 2020 pilot project where an asphalt seal coat product was applied to asphalt roads. This coating is light in color, enhances reflectivity, can be applied with a squeegee or sprayed on and is compatible with existing asphalt surfaces. A safe, non-toxic material that’s suitable for typical activities on a road is durable like a regular seal coat. So far, the study has shown that the surface temperature of the cool pavement (CP) on average was cooler than asphalt concrete. While 100 miles of cool pavement have been installed, the study is ongoing, and moving forward they’re looking for longer-term performance testing, new types or colors of cool pavement and high-end air temperature tests. Already based on consumer feedback they changed the color from an off white, which they used initially, to a light gray which provides less glare and was well received by consumers.  

A study of solar reflectivity of coatings for exterior wall applications 

Professor Ray Fernando from California Polytechnic State University has been the occupant of the Arthur C. Edwards Endowed Chair in Coatings Technology and Ecology since 2002. He is also the director of Cal Poly’s Kenneth N Edwards Western Coatings Technology Center. Ray provided a technical overview of different wall coatings and how reflective they are. A lot of very technical data was presented that definitely piqued the interest of many people in the room, but was a bit too technical for me without a science background. A few takeaways from his research and findings included: 

• All tinted films have perfect contrast ratio 
• Hybrid pigments can provide small increases of solar reflectance (SR) 
• Hollow spherical materials provide greater increases in SR 
• IR reflective black pigments provided the highest increase in SR 

Planning cooler cities with Google’s Cool Roofs Tool 

Mansi Kansal and David Fork with Google Research presented on how Google hopes to help local governments plan, advocate and evaluate ways to increase cool roof adoption to mitigate the harmful effects of urban heat. Through their Cool Roofs Lab, they’re using high resolution, aerial imagery to infer reflectance at higher resolution to provide building level insights to help urban planners determine where to implement specific projects. This imagery, combined with socioeconomic data, can help determine which neighborhoods would benefit most from cool roof interventions. The Cool Roofs Lab is currently live in 15 cities, some of which include: Los Angeles, Phoenix, Nashville, New York, San Antonio and also Melbourne, Australia! 

As a first-time attendee of this event, I was blown away at not only the organization of the day, but the amount of information, research and technology that’s out there is astounding. In such a big industry, it’s amazing to sit in a room with 80 people from all around the world who all have the same interests and want the same things for our future. To be amongst scientists, academics, contractors and people who are just curious about what’s new in the cool roof and wall landscape, was unique. And I can’t wait to see what else the CRRC does! 

By Evelyn Witterholt, RCS Reporter. 

Malarkey Roofing’s Ben Rucka breaks down the innovative technology behind this special shingle coating. 

RCS President Heidi J. Ellsworth sat down with Ben Rucka, district manager of Malarkey Roofing in Season 3, Episode 59 of Roofing Road Trips. In the podcast, Ben discussed how they have been utilizing 3M™ Smog-reducing Granules in all of their shingles and how their company incorporates upcycled materials into their products.  

“It really is similar to a catalytic converter,” said Ben when describing the process. The granules are incorporated into the coating on the shingles Malarkey Roofing makes. When it interacts with smog, the granules get the smog attached to it and change the catalytic ions into an NO3. Then, the NO3 gets rinsed off the granule with moisture such as rain or dew and the coating on the granule stays in tact.”  

Since 2019, every shingle Malarkey Roofing has made has used this granule, making it available at every price point. “If you buy a Malarkey roof and it's 30 squares, you're planting two and a half trees in your yard without planting those trees, which is an incredible benefit to all,” Ben said. 

Ben delved into how Malarkey Roofing has always been trying to be sustainable with their practices. He told the story of former President Michael Malarkey who wanted to reduce the amount of methane being emitted from a Portland landfill. Ben said, “He basically financed a pipe to bring that methane gas from the landfill to our plant and still to this day, our fiberglass mat is made with a big chunk of that methane gas from the Portland landfill.” 

Malarkey Roofing is always looking for ways to be more sustainable by using recycled materials. In one of their shingles, the Highlander NEX 241, they actually incorporate upcycled material into the shingle. Ben states, “If you ever look at different plastics, they all have a number on them. We are using certain versions of that plastic to mix in our shingle blend and we came up with the next formulation of asphalt and that's really been a big winner in my world, the Highlander NEX 241. It's a great shingle.” 

Listen to the entire podcast to learn more about the smog-reducing granules and the other sustainable practices of Malarkey Roofing. 

Learn more about Malarkey in their RoofersCoffeeShop® Directory or visit www.malarkeyroofing.com.

By 3M. 

Survey results shed light on whether homeowners consider the environment in their home renovation projects. 

3M conducted a survey with 1,500 homeowners who had engaged in a home renovation project to learn whether they considered the environment in their home renovation projects during the pandemic.  

Home renovations and improvements during the pandemic 

It wasn’t long after sheltering in place that people uncovered a silver lining to being at home more often. With new routines and habits, as well as unexpected down time, homeowners tackled interior, exterior and outdoor home renovation projects at an unexpected rate. This even caught industry analysts by surprise and caused them to reverse their projections from decline to growth. 

Types of projects 

• 53% were interior projects (e.g., kitchen, bath, basement) 

• 23% were exterior projects (e.g., roofing, siding, windows) 

• 24% were outdoor projects (e.g., decks, pools, additions) 

Top survey findings include:  

1 - Homeowners rely on professionals. 

• 71% of homeowners used professional contractors to complete their home renovation projects entirely or partially. 

• 42% of homeowners that relied on advice from other individuals stated that contractors influenced them the most. 

2 - Homeowners desire more eco-friendly choices for construction materials 

• 45% of homeowners surveyed chose eco-friendly construction materials for their last renovation project and 70% plan to choose eco-friendly construction materials for their next project. 

• 71% feel broader society will move toward eco-friendly construction materials.  

3 - Homeowners are influenced by their friends and family.     

• 66% of homeowners surveyed feel they are doing enough.  

• 52% of homeowners stated they would be more active in considering eco-friendly materials if their friends and family were doing so. 

4 - Homeowners want more eco-friendly options.    

• 56% of homeowners feel every product should have an eco-friendly component. 

• Two-thirds of homeowners surveyed felt that the construction industry should offer more eco-friendly options.  

5 - Recycling and waste reduction are top-of-mind.        

• 39% of homeowners believe the construction industry should prioritize the reduction of waste for a sustainable future.    

• Recycling and reducing waste are #1 on the list of activities homeowners believe impact the environment most. 

Individuals have an influential voice 

Not only do homeowners find eco-friendly products appealing, according to the survey, they are taking the advice of others to influence their purchases. What homeowners say and do can impact their circle of influence.  Consider the ripple effect if homeowners continued to seek out eco-friendly choices and helped educate their friends and family in the process. If the industry can continue to offer more products in this category and help homeowners understand the benefits of the eco-friendly elements included, consider the ripple effect it could have on the adoption of eco-friendly products.  

Visit 3m.com/homerenovation to view the highlights. 

Learn more about 3M in their RoofersCoffeeShop® Directory or visit www.engage.3m.com/homereno. 

About the 2021 3M Home Renovation Study 

3M conducted an online survey with 1,585 homeowners. The results shared are statistically significant (i.e., the results were likely not due to chance). Survey respondents had joint or full responsibility for home decisions, started or completed a home renovation project between May 2020 and April 2021, and the demographics reflect the general population of homeowners over the age of 18.

By Cass Jacoby, RCS Reporter. 

Learn about the small-town plant and process that supplies asphalt shingle granules across the country. 

Today, 3M is one of the world’s biggest manufacturers, offering thousands of diverse products, but about 120 years ago, it began its legacy with a mining operation in Minnesota. 3M is still mining today as part of its roofing granules business with its youngest mining facility just 19 years old located in Chatham County, North Carolina. 

“3M makes approximately 60,000 different products,” Blake Arnett, plant director at 3M’s Pittsboro site told Chatham News Record. “It’s been said that you can’t go anywhere in the civilized world for more than five minutes without touching one of our products.” 

The 95,000-square-foot facility just south of Pittsboro is one of the world’s leading suppliers of roofing granules to be used in the asphalt shingle industry. Blake explained to Chatham News Record that the “M” in 3M “stands for Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing. “I joke around with the executives when they come to the plant. I tell them without the company’s industrial minerals products division they’d have to change their name to 2M.” 

Pittsboro may be the youngest of 3M’s mining facilities, but its product supplies buyers across the country. As the big construction boom continues, 3M is working around the clock to provide buyers with what they need. “We export approximately $175 million out of the state,” says Blake. 

The mining process begins with 3M’s quarry partner, Luck Stone, a “family owned and operated producer of crushed stone, sand and gravel,” according to the company’s website. 

“We own the land,” Blake told Chatham News Record, “but they mine that for us — do the blasting and that sort of stuff. And then with conveyor systems they’ll bring the rock over to our facility.” 

After Luck Stone delivers Andesite rock, the stone is crushed and screened for quality and whittled down to one-sixteenth of an inch around. Then 3M begins the coloring process, which is where the company really differentiates itself. 

“We add coloring to it and that’s where you get the black, red, blues and white and stuff like that,” Blake says. “And you know that color has got to stay on for 20, 30 years on your roof,  so that’s really where the 3M technology comes into place — it’s in that coloring process.” 

The stone is placed in a kiln to set once it has been dyed, then the finished product is placed in a shipping silo for delivery. 

3M remains prolific in its output as a major supplier for roofing granules. 

Stay up to date with the latest roofing industry news when you sign up for the RCS Week in Roofing e-news. 

Photo credit: Chatham News Record

By Cass Jacoby, RCS Reporter. 

Learn how 3M’s smog-reducing granules are helping better the environment in this podcast. 

Smog-reducing granules with the smog-reducing power of two to three trees might sound like it works via magic. How else could your roof simply improve air quality? In this podcast, 3M’s Marketing Manager Carrie Niezgocki and Application Engineer Lara Ughetta teach us how this innovation works without so much as a wave from a magic wand. Listen to learn about free radicals, ions and how 3M smog-reducing roofing granules use the power of the sun to improve air quality. 

This innovation works in much the same way that trees filter air by trapping them in their leaves and bark. Roofs with these shingles transform smog gases into a form of nitrogen that can be used by plants. This means a typical size roof with smog-reducing granules has the smog-fighting power of two to three trees. 

“In simple terms, 3M created a granule with their special coating that reacts to the sun, and that transforms smog particles into a solid that's deposited on the roof and simply washes away,” says Carrie. “So you're taking the smog gases that are harmful at the parts per billion level and transforming them into a salt that washes away and so your roof becomes a smog-reducing surface.” 

“Our smog-reducing granules are made very similarly to a standard colored roofing granule, except that they include photocatalytic technology that gets activated when the granules are exposed to ultraviolet light on the rooftop,” Lara adds. 

“The really cool thing with this technology is that the catalyst doesn't ever get consumed in the reaction itself, it just facilitates those reactions that happen around it,” Lara states. “So, these granules continually keep causing these reactions whenever the sunlight or the UV light is hitting that roof surface.” This means that you won’t have to replace a roof any earlier than you would with traditional roofing shingles. 

In a market where more and more homeowners are shown to have a renewed interest in technologies that create more eco-friendly or sustainable roofing solutions, 3Ms smog-reducing granules are a timely and innovative invention. 

“When you think of two to three trees it may seem like we're not doing enough, but when you think of the collective impact...there's so much more potential to make a bigger impact, and that's what really gets us excited,” says Lara. 

You can learn more about 3M’s smog-reducing shingles and how they lead to better business and better air by listening to the entire “What’s Next at 3M” podcast. 

Learn more about 3M in their RoofersCoffeeShop® Directory or visit www.engage.3m.com/homereno.

3M offers a breath of fresh air to our communities of contractors and property owners. 

RoofersCoffeeShop, the award-winning place where the industry meets for technology, information and everyday business, is pleased to welcome 3M into its community for contractors and home and building owners on its sister site, AskARoofer. 3M is using their innovations to create a world where all communities can be safe, healthy and thriving through increased energy efficiency, reduced greenhouse gas emissions and access to clean air and water. 

Part of 3M’s commitment to sustainability is their application of science to help reduce smog and improve the air we breathe. Reducing air pollution remains critical to public health, that’s why 3M is addressing this environmental challenge with 3M™ Smog-reducing Granules. 

The 3M™ Smog-reducing Granules use the power of the sun to improve air quality. In much the same way that trees filter air by trapping them in their leaves and bark, roofs with these shingles transform smog gases into a plant usable form of nitrogen. By integrating smog-reducing granules into roofs, this technology has essentially ‘planted’ over 900,000 trees that can help clean the air of smog pollutants. A typical size roof with smog-reducing granules has the smog fighting power of two to three trees. 

This timely and innovative invention helps make our environment better, improving the air quality by reducing pollution, which can help communities address their emission reduction efforts.  More than that, though, this smart solution helps the roofing industry take a step forward in combatting climate change. 3M invented the technology that can turn your roof into a smog-fighting surface. 

RoofersCoffeeShop® is proud to welcome 3M!

About 3M 

At 3M (NYSE: MMM), we apply science in collaborative ways to improve lives daily as our employees connect with customers all around the world. Learn more about 3M's creative solutions to global challenges at www.3M.com or on Twitter @3M or @3MNews.

By Colin Sheehan, RCS Reporter. 

How contractors can differentiate their business with smog-reducing granule technology. 

In Season 3, Episode 59 of Roofing Road Trips, Heidi J. Ellsworth visits with Ben Rucka, district manager with Malarkey Roofing Products about the important trend of using roofing materials to battle smog; all Malarkey shingles include 3M™ Smog-reducing Granules. In this podcast, Ben and Heidi discuss the importance of new science in roofing and how Malarkey shingles help actively reduce emission-based air pollution equivalent to planting two and a half trees per roof. 

These granules, which blend inconspicuously into the shingle’s color, contain a photocatalytic coating which, when activated by the UV rays of the sun, creates the energy needed to begin the process of breaking down dangerous, inhalable gas (NO2) into a water-soluble nitrate salt solid (NO₃), a plant usable form of nitrogen that washes away with rainwater as a mild fertilizer.  

"It’s just rinse and repeat,” said Ben. “Over time that granule is the equivalent [of] planting two and a half trees, which are nature's basic filter for pulling carbon dioxide and difficult chemicals out of the air and putting them back into the earth.” 

3M and Malarkey Roofing Products have been working side by side to develop these smog-reducing granules, which were a Time Magazine invention of the year in 2018. 3M produced the coating that was added to Malarkey’s granule, which acts like a catalytic converter. Essentially, the smog attaches to the granule and catalytic ions change the NO₂ into a NO₃ before the NO₃ is washed off the roof. 

Since 2019, every shingle Malarkey offers incorporates this granule technology. This means every roof with at least 30 squares of Malarkey shingles is aiding in the reduction of harmful chemicals in the air, a tremendous benefit for everyone. This is not the first time Malarkey has gone above and beyond for the health of communities and the sustainability of our planet, in fact generations of Malarkey leadership have made this commitment an integral part of their company culture and values. 

“Our president, Greg Malarkey talks about a closed system and that's basically the earth,” said Ben. “If you start thinking about progressing and just doing the right thing, [second generation owner] Michael Malarkey found out that the landfill nearby our plant in Portland was creating a lot of methane that was just getting burned off or launched into the atmosphere. He financed a pipe to bring that methane gas from the landfill to our plant and still to this day, our fiberglass mat is made with a big chunk of that methane gas from the Portland landfill.” 

Listen to the entire podcast to hear more from Ben and how 3M™ Smog Reducing Granules are re-envisioning what a roofing shingle can do.

The majority of homeowners surveyed agree that using eco-friendly construction materials would make a strong impact to the environment.

From reducing air pollution to using renewable energy as a power source, U.S. homeowners have an overwhelming desire for more information, more choices and more action across the industry for eco-friendly construction materials and practices, according to the 2021 3M Home Renovation Study.

"Many homeowners are now inspired to choose construction materials that both serve their conventional purpose and make a positive impact for the environment," said Josh Orman, 3M industrial mineral products division, senior manager of business development. "It's encouraging to see consumers and 3M taking action to improve our environment."

The majority of homeowners surveyed – 74% – agree that using eco-friendly construction materials would make a strong impact to the environment, and 70% plan to purchase eco-friendly materials for their next renovation.

Not only do those homeowners find eco-friendly products appealing, but they are also taking the advice of others to influence their purchases; for example, 52% of homeowners surveyed stated they would be more active in considering eco-friendly materials if their friends and family were integrating eco-friendly options into their lives. 

"Essentially, what homeowners say and do highly impacts those in their circle of influence," said Orman. "Consider the positive ripple effect of homeowners making eco-friendly choices that educate and influence their friends and family in the process."

Homeowners believe most in recycling and reducing waste as the top activity that will positively impact the environment. Eliminating single-use plastics, using renewable energy, reducing air pollution and selecting energy efficient products round out the top five. 

The Home Renovation Study is an independent research study commissioned by 3M to understand interest levels in eco-friendly construction materials and if the industry is meeting homeowner needs. The study was fielded from March through April 2021, across the United States.

For more information on how 3M science can drive change for more sustainable home construction solutions, visit 3M smog-fighter. To read more about the Home Renovation Study, visit 3m.com/homereno.

About the 2021 3M Home Renovation Study

3M conducted an online survey with 1,585 homeowners. The results shared are statistically significant (i.e., the results were likely not due to chance). Survey respondents had joint or full responsibility for home decisions, started or completed a home renovation project between May 2020 and April 2021, and the demographics reflect the general population of homeowners over the age of 18.

About 3M

At 3M (NYSE: MMM), we apply science in collaborative ways to improve lives daily as our employees connect with customers all around the world. Learn more about 3M's creative solutions to global challenges at www.3M.com or on Twitter @3M or @3MNews. 

New Highly Reflective Granule surfaced roof membrane developed through collaboration between 3M and SOPREMA® meets all North American reflectivity codes and standards.

Building owners, architects, roofing consultants and contractors now have a new go-to means of addressing reflectivity codes across North America thanks to a joint effort between SOPREMA® and 3M. SOPREMA—a leader in the roofing, waterproofing, wall protection and civil engineering waterproofing industries—has worked in conjunction with 3M—a science-driven company at the forefront of innovation in a multitude of industries—to incorporate brand-new highly reflective white granules for use with SOPREMA’s SBS-modified bitumen roof membrane product line. The result is new-generation SOPRALENE® SG and ELASTOPHENE® SG modified bitumen cap sheets enhanced with 3M™ Highly Reflective Granules.

These new-generation SG cap sheets build upon the success of SOPREMA’s reflective roofing products currently on the market. New SOPREMA SG granulate-surfaced cap sheets are improved with 3M Highly Reflective Granules, bringing improved durability and an even brighter white appearance to the market. Moving forward, the new 3M ultrareflective granule will be integrated into SOPREMA SG products to create solutions that provide the solar reflective index (SRI) ratings needed to comprehensively meet the highest U.S. and Canadian reflectivity requirements while providing the proven protection factor of multi-ply SBS-modified bitumen systems.

“We are pleased to be the first to provide this technology: a bright, reflective system without sacrificing multilayer bituminous waterproofing performance,” said Matt Davis, product manager for roof membranes at SOPREMA. “Our new SG products are not only durable and maintain their reflectance over the life of the products, but are also lighter weight for easier handling and application for the installer.”

“SOPREMA has been a strong customer for some time, and we were pleased to work with them on this innovative endeavor. We’re proud to provide building owners with a reliable solution that is compliant with reflectivity regulations and helps reduce urban heat island effects,” said Amy McLaughlin, business director and general manager, 3M Industrial Mineral Products Division. “SOPREMA’s R&D team provided valuable insights on market and manufacturing needs and helped us conduct large-scale trials during the development of 3M Highly Reflective Granules. As a result of 3M working closely with the customer to create a solution that meets a specific market need, 3M’s new highly reflective granules exceed expectations during and after manufacturing and enable cap sheets to have high solar reflectivity levels years after installation.”

Testing of SOPRALENE® SG and ELASTOPHENE® SG membranes enhanced with 3M Highly Reflective Granules has shown an initial solar reflectance rating of 0.65, an aged reflectance of 0.62, a thermal emittance of 0.91 both initially and after aging, an initial SRI of 80, and an aged SRI of 75. The new lightweight cap sheets also feature robust opacity, protecting the asphaltic layer and extending the life span of the rooftop. The products require minimal maintenance and will be widely available, providing environmentally sustainable solutions for building owners across the country.

Learn more about SOPREMA’s reflective roofing solutions.

About SOPREMA, Inc.

SOPREMA offers a comprehensive line of roofing, waterproofing, wall protection and civil engineering solutions, combining superior products and systems with decades of proven performance. Our solutions include industry-leading SBS-modified bitumen membranes, polymeric PMMA/PMA liquid-applied membranes and synthetic single-ply PVC membranes. For applications as diverse as roofing, below-grade waterproofing, plaza deck and balcony waterproofing, air and vapor barriers, and bridge and parking structures, SOPREMA has the solution. SOPREMA’s relentless pursuit of technological advancement, sustainability and product quality has been known and respected around the world for over 100 years. Visit www.soprema.us for a complete product offering, environmentally intelligent systems, technical information and the latest innovations delivering sustainable solutions.

About 3M

At 3M, we apply science in collaborative ways to improve lives daily. With $33 billion in sales, our 93,000 employees connect with customers all around the world.

Learn more about 3M’s creative solutions to the world’s problems on Twitter @3M or @3MNews.

Shingles featuring Scotchgard™ Protector by 3M protect against black streaks on roofs caused by algae, now designated a HOLMES Approved Product.

St. Paul‚ Minnesota --Black streaks caused by algae have been hiding in plain sight on roofs for years because most products don’t address the problem long term. Professional contractor and TV host Mike Holmes is known for insisting on nothing less than the best product for the job and helping homeowners understand what it takes to make it right the first time. Together, 3M, Mike Holmes and his team plan to increase awareness with homeowners to help eliminate black streaks on roofs for good by naming shingles with Scotchgard™ Protector a HOLMES Approved Product. Atlas Roofing will leverage its relationship with its roofing contractors, including those trained as Scotchgard™ Protector Shingle Sales Specialists, to help them effectively bring this message to homeowners through a powerful set of marketing tools.

“I’m proud to partner with 3M and I’m excited to see how far we can take the message,” said Mike Holmes, professional contractor and TV host on HGTV and DIY Network. “Together, we’re going to continue to improve the quality of our homes, increase the value of our homes and change our industry for the better.”

This fall, The Holmes Group will partner with two Atlas PRO™ Plus contractors to transform homes in need of a curb appeal facelift. The teams, led by Mike Holmes Jr. and Sherry Holmes, will work together to makeover two homes with Atlas Pinnacle® Pristine Shingles with Scotchgard™ Protector. The Holmes siblings will undoubtedly strike up some friendly competition vying for the best transformation story. Viewers can tune in to the online micro-series later this fall.

“I am excited about this collaboration! I love tackling projects around homes that improve the curb appeal and this is a great fit for our ‘Holmes Approved’ family,” said Sherry Holmes, contractor, TV host and DIYer. Mike Holmes Jr. added, “My dad always says start from the outside in. If you’re taking care of your home that care should include the roof.”

“The Holmes name brings added value to the already highly respected Scotchgard brand,” says Stan Bastek, director of marketing and sales development for Atlas Roofing. “When the Holmes group endorses a brand, they are communicating to consumers that they see the same problem we do: how ugly black streaks on roofs reduce curb appeal and home value. We can’t wait to get to work with Mike, MJ and Sherry to spread the word!”

Invented by 3M to combat black streaks on roofs caused by algae, copper-containing roofing granules have been proven successful on hundreds of thousands of homes across the country over the last two decades. Available as shingles with Scotchgard Protector, this long-term, proven solution provides homeowners a beautiful roof free from ugly black streaks.

“The Scotchgard brand is synonymous with protection for homeowners, so protection from roof algae is the fulfillment of what that brand promises—a roof free of black streaks that retains its aesthetic appearance,” according to Frank Klink, Ph.D., senior laboratory manager, 3M Industrial Mineral Products Division. “Our decades of research into the scientific properties of copper, and field experience with shingle technologies and roof algae, has proven a minimum 10 percent blend of 3M copper-containing granules uniformly distributed across the shingle surface, and hip and ridge are all required for superior protection against algae.”

The Holmes Group recognizes that shingles with Scotchgard Protector provide a long-term solution to help prevent algae growth from taking hold. Based on incorporating the prescribed formula into the shingle, and then using third-party testing on each shingle run, that recognition now comes with inclusion on the “HOLMES Approved Product” list.

By addressing the No. 1 appearance-related problem reported to roofing contractors, shingles with Scotchgard Protector help maintain the roof’s appearance and preserve the beauty of the home. This solution, coupled with 3M training to become a Scotchgard Protector Shingle Sales Specialist, gives contractors a real opportunity to connect and add value to the conversation with homeowners. As a recent survey of these participating contractors indicates, 80 percent realized an improvement in their close rates by as much as 10-20 percent.

Homeowners don’t have to accept the fate of a roof looking old before its time due to the black streaks of algae. 3M science, decades of research and more than one million installations have proven that shingles with Scotchgard Protector will protect your home and help keep it looking good for years to come.

For more information visit 3M at www.3M.com/resistblackstreaks, The Holmes Group at makeitright.scotchgard.com or Atlas Roofing at www.atlasroofing.com/scotchgard.