White Roofs Catch On as Energy Cost Cutters

[ensho]

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/30/science/earth/30degrees.html?_r=1&th&emc=th


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“We’d come home in the summer, and the house would be 115 degrees, stifling,” said Mr. Waldrep, a regional manager for a national company.

He or his wife would race to the thermostat and turn on the air-conditioning as their four small children, just picked up from day care, awaited relief.

All that changed last month. “Now we come home on days when it’s over 100 degrees outside, and the house is at 80 degrees,” Mr. Waldrep said.

Their solution was a new roof: a shiny plasticized white covering that experts say is not only an energy saver but also a way to help cool the planet.

Relying on the centuries-old principle that white objects absorb less heat than dark ones, homeowners like the Waldreps are in the vanguard of a movement embracing “cool roofs” as one of the most affordable weapons against climate change.
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read on - save money, be cooler, help the earth survive

[MADem]

1. K/R. I have been babbling about this with enthusiasm for six months or so.

It does make sense, too.

They are also talking about making the roads lighter colored, as well.

[redqueen]

2. Fantastic.

K&R

[Deja Q]

3. Why not, when possible, convert roofs into gardens?

More plants, oxygen, the large layer of dirt acting as an insulator too, still remains cooler within the domicile... it is more expensive though...

[JonQ]

10. I plan on it one day

when I actually own the house I live in and stop renting. Seems like a good use of the space, cuts down on heating costs (big issue here in Texas) and I enjoy gardening. Also cuts down on rain water being dumped in to the drains every time it rains (we alternative flood/drought so it can be an issue).

May be some structural concerns though, as that would be substantially more weight than a normal roof would be expected to carry.

[glowing]

4. When we must re-do the roof, I think I will put one of these white roofs on.

It will be a plus for me in FL.

[Romulox]

5. Not all of us live in Tempe.

"Some roofing specialists and architects argue that supporters fail to account for climate differences or the complexities of roof construction. In cooler climates, they say, reflective roofs can mean higher heating bills.

Scientists acknowledge that the extra heating costs may outweigh the air-conditioning savings in cities like Detroit or Minneapolis. "

:rofl:

[eShirl]

12. actually, snow does insulate, somewhat

until there's so much of it the roof caves in under all the weight

[Romulox]

13. 'Round here, the presence of snow on the roof is evidence of adequate insulation

At any rate, white shingles wouldn't work in Michigan.

[imdjh]

6. I'm wondering why it ever made sense to use black roofing.

It's not like shingles don't come in colors already, they always have. Black, red, tan, brown, and gray. Why not white?

It's because white shows dirt.

[JonQ]

11. I think it's because tar was often used

as a waterproofing agent, tar is black, therefore it became proper for roofs to be black.

[Wickerman]

7. wish it made sense to do so in Minnesota

as we are going to put a new roof on this summer. But we actually gain some of the usage of that heat back in the long winter so dark roofs make sense.

The Waldrep's are kinda idiots, too. If they would leave the thermostat set at about 80 while they are out the house wouldn't get so warm and it wouldn't cost as much as recooling it on a daily basis.

[AlinPA]

8. When this was mentioned by the new Enegy Secretary Steven Chu, the republicans

howled and laughed and ridiculed the idea.

[MineralMan]

9. Works in some areas, sure, but there's energy in that attic

heat. I'd rather see systems that make use of the energy of the sun hitting a house roof than simply reflecting it off.

[azmouse]

14. We have flat roof sections on our house that are cool-coated.

It makes a tremendous difference in keeping the house cool in the Arizona summer heat.

[Silent3]

15. What I'd really like is a roof that changed color...

...depending on the temperature. During the cold months in NH, at least when roof isn't reflective white because of snow anyway, absorbing heat from the sun is the thing that saves energy.

It would be interesting to know how well white roof works for overall yearly energy efficiency in my part of the country.

[azmouse]

16. The white coating is also good at sealing your roof from water leaks.

I'm sure that's more of a problem in your area than mine (it doesn't rain much here in AZ) so it still may be useful. And it provides some insulation from the heat and cold too.