Con Edison for the third straight year is taking a lead role in supporting Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg’s program to encourage the creation of “cool” roofs and recently sent a team of volunteers to coat a roof atop Kiely Hall at Queens College.

Con Edison volunteers donned painting clothes and grabbed rollers to spread white coating on the Kiely roof, which will help the school cut its energy bills.

The company is lead sponsor of NYC °CoolRoofs 2012, which encourages building owners to install roofs that reflect the sun’s rays.

Con Edison’s volunteer contributions to the program will continue. Hundreds of Con Edison employees have volunteered to put white roofs on buildings across New York City.

Research – including studies by Columbia University at a Con Edison facility in Long Island City, Queens – show that white roofs absorb less sunlight, cutting air conditioning needs, compared to traditional dark roofs. Dark roofs radiate heat back into the atmosphere at night, contributing to warmer urban temperatures.