# Does a cool roof coating cut energy use and emissions in a factory?

Canonical: https://senseible.earth/answers/cool-roof-coating-factory-energy-saving

In air-conditioned spaces, a reflective roof coating reduces heat entering through the roof, so cooling uses fewer kWh. In sheds without cooling it improves comfort but saves little electricity. Measure cooling kWh in comparable months before and after, then multiply the saving by 0.710.

## Where it pays

- Thin metal roofs over air-conditioned or chilled areas.
- Cold stores and pharma warehouses.
- Top-floor offices under concrete roofs.

## What to watch

- Coatings lose reflectance as they get dirty; plan cleaning.
- Insulation may beat coating where the roof is uninsulated.

## What Senseible does here

Senseible reads fuel invoices and electricity bills and applies IPCC 2006 factors and the CEA grid factor (0.710 kg CO2 per kWh), so you can compare Scope 1 and 2 before and after a change from the documents themselves.

- [Cold storage per tonne](https://senseible.earth/answers/cold-storage-emissions-per-tonne)
- [Room AC footprint](https://senseible.earth/answers/room-air-conditioner-carbon-footprint-per-unit)
- [Office footprint per sq ft](https://senseible.earth/answers/office-carbon-footprint-per-square-foot)

Sources: [CEA CO2 Baseline Database for the Indian Power Sector](https://cea.nic.in/cdm-co2-baseline-database/?lang=en), [Bureau of Energy Efficiency](https://beeindia.gov.in), [GHG Protocol Scope 2 Guidance](https://ghgprotocol.org/scope-2-guidance)

Last reviewed 2026-10-22.