Rooftop Cooling and Rainwater Retention Panel and System

Abstract

The system and apparatus according to the invention includes a panel of material which is made up of a body of open cell, reticulated, porous material (e.g., polyurethane foam) surrounded on the sides and bottom by a barrier of waterproof material. A layer of highly reflective, water permeable material is positioned on top of and covers substantially all of the top surface of the body of porous material. A drain can be positioned at the bottom of the panel to provide a slow, gravity feed to release water from the panel.

1 . A cool roof and rainwater retention panel comprising:
 a body of porous material;   said body of porous material having a top surface and a bottom surface;   a water impermeable barrier positioned adjacent and below said bottom surface of said body of porous material; and   a layer of water permeable, reflective material positioned above said top surface of said body of porous material.   
     
     
         2 . The panel as recited in  claim 1  wherein said layer of water permeable, reflective material is light colored. 
     
     
         3 . The panel as recited in  claim 1  wherein said layer of water permeable, reflective material is white. 
     
     
         4 . The panel as recited in  claim 2  or  3  wherein said layer of water permeable, reflective material is fabric. 
     
     
         5 . The panel as recited in  claim 2  or  3  wherein said layer of water permeable, reflective material is paint. 
     
     
         6 . The panel as recited in  claim 2  or  3  wherein said layer of water permeable, reflective material is plastic. 
     
     
         7 . The panel as recited in  claim 1  wherein said layer of water permeable, reflective material has a reflectivity value of 50% or greater. 
     
     
         8 . The panel as recited in  claim 7  wherein the layer of water permeable, reflective material has an emissivity value of 0.50 or greater. 
     
     
         9 . The panel as recited in  claim 1  wherein said layer of water permeable, reflective material covers substantially all of said body of porous material. 
     
     
         10 . The panel as recited in  claim 1  further comprising a drain positioned at the bottom of said panel for releasing retained fluid from said panel. 
     
     
         11 . The panel as recited in  claim 10  further comprising a drain line associated with said drain. 
     
     
         12 . The panel as recited in  claim 10  further comprising a drain valve associated with said drain. 
     
     
         13 . The panel as recited in  claim 1  further comprising a fluid emission device associated with said panel for emitting fluid into said body of porous material. 
     
     
         14 . The panel as recited in  claim 1  further comprising:
 at least one opening through said layer of water permeable, reflective material; and 
 at least one opening through the top surface of said body of porous material wherein said at least one opening in said body of porous material is aligned with a corresponding opening in said layer of water permeable, reflective material. 
 
     
     
         15 . The panel as recited in  claim 1  wherein said water permeable barrier is positioned adjacent all lateral sides of said body of porous material. 
     
     
         16 . The panel as recited in  claim 1  wherein said body of porous material is open cell foam material. 
     
     
         17 . The panel as recited in  claim 1  wherein said water impermeable barrier is polymeric plastic. 
     
     
         18 . A rooftop cooling and rainwater retention panel comprising:
 a body of porous material;   said body of porous material having a top surface and a bottom surface;   a water impermeable barrier positioned adjacent and below said bottom surface of said body of porous material;   a drain positioned at the bottom of said panel for releasing retained fluid from said panel; and   a drain line in fluid communication with said drain.   
     
     
         19 . The panel as recited in  claim 18  further comprising a layer of water permeable, reflective material positioned above the top surface of the body of porous material. 
     
     
         20 . The panel as recited in  claim 19  wherein said layer of water permeable, reflective material is light colored. 
     
     
         21 . The panel as recited in  claim 19  wherein said layer of water permeable, reflective material is white. 
     
     
         22 . The panel as recited in  claim 20  or  21  wherein said layer of water permeable, reflective material is fabric. 
     
     
         23 . The panel as recited in  claim 20  or  21  wherein said layer of water permeable, reflective material is paint. 
     
     
         24 . The panel as recited in  claim 20  or  21  wherein said layer of water permeable, reflective material is plastic. 
     
     
         25 . The panel as recited in  claim 18  wherein said layer of water permeable, reflective material has a reflectivity value of 50% or greater. 
     
     
         26 . The panel as recited in  claim 18  wherein said layer of water permeable, reflective material has an emissivity value of 0.50 or greater. 
     
     
         27 . The panel as recited in  claim 18  wherein said layer of water permeable, reflective material covers substantially all of said body of porous material. 
     
     
         28 . The panel as recited in  claim 19  further comprising:
 at least one opening through said layer of water permeable, reflective material; and 
 at least one opening through the top surface of said body of porous material wherein said at least one opening in said body of porous material is aligned with a corresponding opening in said layer of water permeable, highly reflective material. 
 
     
     
         29 . The panel as recited in  claim 18  wherein said water permeable barrier is positioned adjacent all lateral sides of said body of porous material. 
     
     
         30 . The panel as recited in  claim 18  wherein said body of porous material is open cell foam material. 
     
     
         31 . The panel as recited in  claim 18  wherein said water impermeable barrier is polymeric plastic. 
     
     
         32 . The panel as recited in  claim 18  further comprising a drain valve associated with said drain. 
     
     
         33 . A cool roof and rainwater retention panel comprising:
 a body of porous material;   said body of porous material having a top surface and a bottom surface;   a water impermeable barrier positioned adjacent and below the bottom surface of said body of porous material;   a layer of water permeable, reflective material positioned above said top surface of said body of porous material; and   a drain positioned at the bottom of said panel for releasing retained fluid from said panel.   
     
     
         34 . The panel as recited in  claim 33  wherein said layer of water permeable, reflective material is light colored. 
     
     
         35 . The panel of  claim 33  wherein said layer of water permeable, reflective material is white. 
     
     
         36 . The panel of  claim 34  or  35  wherein said layer of water permeable, reflective material is fabric. 
     
     
         37 . The panel of  claim 34  or  35  wherein said layer of water permeable, reflective material is paint. 
     
     
         38 . The panel of  claim 34  or  35  wherein said layer of water permeable, reflective material is plastic. 
     
     
         39 . The panel of  claim 33  wherein said layer of water permeable, reflective material has a reflectivity value of 50% or greater. 
     
     
         40 . The panel of  claim 33  wherein said layer of water permeable, reflective material has an emissivity value of 0.50 or greater. 
     
     
         41 . The panel of  claim 33  wherein said layer of water permeable, reflective material covers substantially all of said body of porous material. 
     
     
         42 . The panel as recited in  claim 33  further comprising a fluid emission device associated with said panel for emitting fluid into said body of porous material. 
     
     
         43 . The panel as recited in  claim 33  further comprising:
 at least one opening through said layer of water permeable, reflective material; and 
 at least one opening through the top surface of said body of porous material wherein said at least one opening in said body of porous material is aligned with a corresponding opening in said layer of water permeable, highly reflective material. 
 
     
     
         44 . The panel as recited in  claim 33  wherein said water permeable barrier is positioned adjacent all lateral sides of said body of porous material. 
     
     
         45 . The panel as recited in  claim 33  wherein said body of porous material is open cell foam material. 
     
     
         46 . The panel as recited in  claim 33  wherein said water impermeable barrier is polymeric plastic. 
     
     
         47 . The panel as recited in  claim 33  further comprising a drain valve associated with said drain. 
     
     
         48 . A cool roof and rainwater retention panel system comprising a plurality of panels arranged on a surface;
 each of said panels comprising a body of porous material;   said body of porous material having a top surface and a bottom surface;   a water impermeable barrier positioned adjacent and below said bottom surface of said body of porous material and adjacent all lateral sides of said body of porous material;   a layer of water permeable, reflective material positioned above said top surface of said body of porous material;   a drain positioned at the bottom of said panel for releasing retained fluid from said panel; and   a drain line associated with each of said drains.   
     
     
         49 . The panel as recited in  claim 48  wherein each of said layer of water permeable, reflective material is light colored. 
     
     
         50 . The panel as recited in  claim 48  wherein each of said layer of water permeable, reflective material is white. 
     
     
         51 . The panel as recited in  claim 49  or  50  wherein each of said layer of water permeable, reflective material is fabric. 
     
     
         52 . The panel as recited in  claim 49  or  50  wherein each of said layer of water permeable, reflective material is paint. 
     
     
         53 . The panel as recited in  claim 49  or  50  wherein each of said layer of water permeable, reflective material is plastic. 
     
     
         54 . The panel as recited in  claim 48  wherein each of said layer of water permeable, reflective material has a reflectivity value of 50% or greater. 
     
     
         55 . The panel as recited in  claim 54  wherein each of said layer of water permeable, reflective material has an emissivity value of 0.50 or greater. 
     
     
         56 . The panel as recited in  claim 48  wherein each of said layers of water permeable, reflective material covers substantially all of each of said bodies of porous material. 
     
     
         57 . The panel system as recited in  claim 48  further comprising a fluid emission device associated with each of said panels for emitting fluids into each of said bodies of porous material. 
     
     
         58 . The panel system as recited in  claim 48  further comprising:
 at least one opening through each of said layers of water permeable, reflective material; and 
 at least one opening through the top surface of each of said bodies of porous material wherein said at least one opening in each of said bodies of porous material is aligned with a corresponding opening in each of said layers of water permeable, reflective material. 
 
     
     
         59 . The panel system as recited in  claim 48  wherein each of said bodies of porous material is open cell foam material. 
     
     
         60 . The panel system as recited in  claim 48  wherein each of said water impermeable barriers is polymeric plastic. 
     
     
         61 . The panel system as recited in  claim 48  further comprising a drain valve associated with each of said drains. 
     
     
         62 . The panel system as recited in  claim 48  further comprising at least one collection tube connected to at least one of said drain lines. 
     
     
         63 . A cool roof and rainwater retention panel comprising:
 a body of porous material;   said body of porous material having a bottom surface and a reflective top surface;   a water impermeable barrier positioned adjacent and below said bottom surface of said body of porous material.   
     
     
         64 . The panel as recited in  claim 63  wherein said top surface of said body of porous material is light colored. 
     
     
         65 . The panel as recited in  claim 63  wherein said top surface of said body of porous material is white. 
     
     
         66 . The panel as recited in  claim 63  wherein said top surface of said body of porous material has a reflectivity value of 50% or greater. 
     
     
         67 . The panel as recited in  claim 63  further comprising a drain positioned at the bottom of said panel for releasing retained fluid from said panel. 
     
     
         68 . The panel as recited in  claim 67  further comprising a drain line associated with said drain. 
     
     
         69 . The panel as recited in  claim 67  further comprising a drain valve associated with said drain. 
     
     
         70 . The panel as recited in  claim 63  further comprising a fluid emission device associated with said panel for emitting fluid into said body of porous material. 
     
     
         71 . The panel as recited in  claim 63  further comprising at least one opening through said top surface of said body of porous material. 
     
     
         72 . The panel as recited in  claim 63  wherein said water permeable barrier is positioned adjacent all lateral sides of said body of porous material. 
     
     
         73 . The panel as recited in  claim 63  wherein said body of porous material is open cell foam material. 
     
     
         74 . The panel as recited in  claim 63  wherein said water impermeable barrier is polymeric plastic. 
     
     
         75 . The panel as recited in  claim 63  further comprising a drain valve associated with said drain.