The Orange Beach Recreation Center is an example of how sealants and coatings can update old buildings and provide energy savings. A combination of sealant and UV-reflective top coat was used on the building’s 20,000 square foot roof. The sealant fills in gaps and leaks to reduce heating and cooling costs. The UV-resistant top coat aids in maintaining internal temperatures by preventing solar heating. Before the upgrade, the roof was a decade old and the building’s utility bill was rapidly growing. The decision was made to seal and coat the roof when building manager Chris Litton found that this could result in 15% energy savings per year. While the newly sealed roof cost the city $41,900, it is anticipated to save $8000 per year in heating and cooling costs. At that rate, the roof sealant would pay for itself in just over five years.