With temperatures in the 90s this weekend, the 1200 Block of Wolf St. was feeling especially cool. On Saturday, Mayor Michael Nutter was on hand to help the block celebrate winning the RetroFIT Philly “Coolest Block Contest” with a block party that featured a live band, roof tours, and an internationally renowned scientist.

Through this project, coordinated by the Dow Chemical Company, the Energy Coordinating Agency (ECA), and the City of Philadelphia, all residents on this South Philly block will receive a free energy audit, application of a white ‘cool roof’ coating, which contains Dow’s technology, and air sealing and insulation from Dow. These improvements will reduce energy costs by 20 to 30%, make homes healthier and safer by lowering indoor temperature on hot summer days, and reduce the roof’s temperature by switching from black tar to white coated roofs!

The party featured a special appearance by Mayor Nutter, who thanked the residents for their enthusiasm and commitment to making their community more energy efficient. “It’s because of Philadelphians like you, who have taken action to save energy that we’ll be able to hand over a healthier, safer community to our children. This will serve as a great example to the rest of the city that we can save energy and become the greenest city in America.” Hashem Akbari, a leading climate scientist, explained that by coating a black asphalt roof white, you can reduce air conditioning costs by 20%, reduce the urban heat island effect, and can even slow climate change. According to Akbari, coating the roofs on the 1200 block of Wolf St. will permanently lower carbon emissions by 273 tons and will help make Philadelphia a truly cool city.

Mayor Nutter wasn’t the only one excited about the benefits of this project. Wearing “Keepin It Cool” and “Stay Cool” t-shirts, residents of the block displayed their excitement about making their homes and community more energy efficient and took turns going up on one neighbor’s roof, where the white coating has already been applied. Kids took a break from the wading pool and free water ice to learn more about ‘cool roofs’ by playing with tennis balls that were covered in the acrylic, elastomeric white coating that will soon cover their roofs. According to Terry Jack, the resident who coordinated the block’s entry in the contest, the project was “an incredible opportunity that we were so lucky to take advantage of. We can’t wait to see the final result!”

ECA has begun the work on the 1200 block of Wolf St. and expects to be completed before the end of July. For more information, call 215-609-1052 or email kathrynr@ecasavesenergy.org.