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News
White Roofs to Fight Global Warming
We have covered green roofs extensively (see the many links at the bottom of this post), but we haven't given quite as much coverage to white roofs, which is unfortunate because it's one of these simple things that could make a big difference. New Scientist has a little piece on the subject: "Would it be possible to reduce the impact of the greenhouse effect by painting roofs of buildings white to reflect sunlight in the same way the polar icecaps do?" To answer that question, the Earth Institute at Columbia University (New York) has undertaken the Global Rural Urban Mapping Project (GRUMP). Its results show that roughly 3 per cent of the Earth's land surface is covered with buildings. Click here for more.
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White Roofs Save Energy
When you're buying a new roof, think white.
That's what a new study commissioned by Florida Power & Light Co. recommends for homeowners.
The four-month study by the Florida Solar Energy Center, a state-funded research lab at the University of Central Florida, found that the whiter and more reflective a house's roof, the lower the electric bill. Click here for more.
White Roofs Cut Air Conditioning by 40%
Painting our roofs and roads white would substaintially reduce the cost (both monetary and environmental) of cooling our cities.
Cooler roofs come from changing the color of the material used for roofing shingles. Most homes have to be re-roofed about every 20 years. Changing from a dark shingle (once traditional because it was more "wood like") to a light-colored (titanium-based white or terra cotta red) shingle can cut air conditioning costs by up to 40%. Georgia has been a leader in pushing cool roofs, passing a state law encouraging the shift. A few other states and regions also provide incentives, and the federal government is considering adding heat reflectivity requirements to housing regulations.
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Painting the Town White - or Green
Urban heat islands are not inevitable, but the product of dark roofs, black pavement, and loss of vegetation. A "cool communities" approach would lower air-conditioning use and make the air healthier. Click here for more.
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Advocates Want Roof White to Save Energy
The American dream soon could include a sparkling white roof to match that quaint picket fence.
That's the vision of "cool roof advocates who want to persuade homeowners and businesses to replace their dark roofs with pearly, energy-saving ones. Click here for more.
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Cool Roofs
Over 90% of the roofs in the United States are dark-colored. These low-reflectance surfaces reach temperatures of 150 to 190°F (66 to 88°C) and contribute to:
- The Utah Olympic Oval uses cool roof technology.
- Increased cooling energy use and higher utility bills;
Higher peak electricity demand, raised electricity production costs, and a potentially overburdened power grid; - Reduced indoor comfort;
- Increased air pollution due to the intensification of the "heat island effect"; and
- Accelerated deterioration of roofing materials, increased roof maintenance costs, and high levels of roofing waste sent to landfills.
Cick here for more.
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Power of Reflection
From sunny San Diego to frigid New York, roofs across America are slowly becoming whiter, brighter — cooler.
Most traditional dark-colored roofs absorb 70% or more of the solar energy striking them, resulting in peak roof temperatures of 150-190 F. By comparison, white, reflective roofs are 50-60 F cooler on hot days. That can decrease cooling costs by 15-20% on average, depending on the type, size, and location of a building (See sidebar, opposite). Click here for more.
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