Create modern architecture that is built to last with CUPA PIZARRAS natural slate

2019-11-25T08:00:00-05:00

This post is brought to you by Cupa Pizarras

Smart sustainability is not “just a fad” in contemporary architectural design — it's a lifelong necessity. Natural slate has proven to be a reliable exterior building material for its timeless appearance and its remarkable resistance to the elements. With over a century of experience, leading natural-slate manufacturer Cupa Pizarras has modernized this ancient material to adapt to contemporary architectural styles and present-day needs with their natural slate products, which include their CUPACLAD® Natural Slate Rainscreen Cladding Systems and a variety of roofing slates.

CUPACLAD® 101 for the Fernelmont House in Namur, Belgium.

CUPACLAD® 201 VANGUARD for the Vestjysk Bank in Hvide Sande, Denmark.

Many of today's architecture firms have turned to Cupa Pizarras for the flexibility, easy installation, high quality, and unique appearance of their slate products. Not to mention that one out of every three pieces of natural slate installed in ...

'Cool roofs' substantially reduce temperatures during a heat wave, according to new study

2015-12-22T19:39:00-05:00

It is well established that white roofs can mitigate the urban heat island effect, reflecting the sun's energy back into space and reducing a city's temperature. In a new study of Guangzhou, China, researchers found that during a heat wave, the effect is significantly more pronounced. Reflective roofs, also called cool roofs, save energy by keeping buildings cooler, thus reducing the need for air conditioning.

According to a new study by Berkeley lab researchers Dev Millstein, Ronnen Levinson, and Pablo Rosado, alongside Meichun Cao and Zhaohui Lin of the Institute of Atmospheric Physic in Beijing, so-called "cool roofs," or roofs painted white, substantially reduce the urban heat island effect during a heat wave.

Prior research had shown that cool roofs could mitigate the urban heat island effect, but the new study shows just how drastically this can make a difference during a heat wave. Heat waves affect both public health and energy resources, requiring massive amounts of air conditioning and other cooling systems that can overtax the electric grid.

"The hotter it is, the more cooling you get with cool roofs--and it is a significant difference, compared to the margin of error," Millstein told ScienceDaily. "We found that the stagnant conditions of a heat wave, where the air is just sitting over the city, was one of the main factors."

The research was conducted in Guangzhou, a large city ...

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Create modern architecture that is built to last with CUPA PIZARRAS natural slate

'Cool roofs' substantially reduce temperatures during a heat wave, according to new study