Echo Morton explains how her SMART roof technology works. Bob Schneider/CHAT News

By Jesse Gill

IN THE COMMUNITY

Medicine Hat teen looks to create environmental impact with her SMART roof project

Apr 23, 2025 | 6:54 PM

A Medicine Hat teenager hopes to create a far reaching positive environmental impact with her SMART roof project.

Fourteen-year old Echo Moreton said black roof shingles absorb the sun’s energy to help melt snow off a roof in winter.

In the summer months that heat absorption isn’t beneficial, which is why she created shingles that change colour to white when reaching 26 degrees celsius.

“With the white roof it will reflect the sun’s energy back into space having a higher albedo effect,” Moreton said

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“With a cool roof less heat will be radiated into the house keeping your house cool as well,” she added.

“With a cool roof and a cool house your AC will have to spend less time, money, and energy keeping your house at a comfortable living temperature.”

Moreton is looking to apply the concept to siding as well.

With her project starting last summer, she has tested the concept in each of the four seasons we have in Medicine Hat, and has noticed a difference of close to 24 degrees celsius on the surface from a black to a white shingle in the heat.

She was also the winner of the Minerva award and Gold at the local science fair in March, and will compete in the Canada-Wide Science Fair at the end of May.

Moreton said she came up with the idea combining two other ideas together.

“My color-changing nail polish that changes color due to how much sun it absorbs. So in the sunlight it turns blue and out of the sunlight it turns black,” Moreton said.

“The ability to sit on different colored car seats in both the summer and winter. In the summer you’ll like to sit on lighter colored car seats because it’s nice and cool, and in the winter you’ll like to sit on darker colored car seats because it’s nice and warm.”

Moreton would like to see her SMART roof technology implemented on homes and businesses in the future.