In discussions about roofing, energy performance, and urban heat, one misunderstanding recurs: the temperature measured on the roof surface is often treated as if it were the ambient air temperature above the roof. It is not the same, and confusing the two can lead to poor policy and design decisions. For building owners, designers, policymakers, […]
Author: cosurorg
Finding Balance: The Next Chapter in Low-Slope Roof Design
Published in Interface, the technical journal of IIBEC, March 2026 Read what the author, Jason Wilen, has to say about this topic. Achieving long-term performance in low-slope roof systems requires balance. Not balance between competing preferences, but balance across the full set of technical, environmental, and code-driven variables that define how a roof system performs […]
Coalition Protects Roofing Diversity and Defends Sound Building Science
A broad coalition of roofing industry organizations has successfully defeated Mississippi House Bill 1730, legislation that would have imposed a mandatory minimum 3:12 roof slope on all new public buildings constructed in the state. The measure, which passed the Mississippi House of Representatives before stalling in the state Senate, would have effectively prohibited low-slope roofing […]
Ellen Thorp Appointed Chair of NIBS Consultative Council
Thorp brings extensive experience in sustainable roofing, building resilience, and advancing environmentally responsible practices Published in Building Enclosure on December 3, 2025 The Coalition for Sustainable Roofing (COSUR) announced that Ellen Breipohl Thorp, CAE, president and managing director of COSUR, has been appointed Chair of the Consultative Council of the National Institute of Building Sciences (NIBS). Her […]
No Clear Vision Yet of Tariffs’ Impact U.S. Roofing Industry
By Ellen Thorp Published in Building Enclosure on April 25, 2025 The U.S. roofing industry is grappling with significant challenges following the announcements of new tariffs. Faced with a lack of clarity regarding their scope and application, new tariffs have the potential to affect the cost and supply chain of essential materials like steel, aluminum, […]
Tennessee Legislature Exempts State from White Roof Mandate
Tennessee lawmakers have advanced legislation that reflects what works for Tennessee’s climate and construction practices, rejects one-size-fits-all mandates not grounded in Tennessee-based research, and supports local businesses.