Painting roofs white promoted as way to fight global warming

[pickel]

Painting roofs white promoted as way to fight global warming - USATODAY.com


"A 45-degree difference and we're only on the first coat," he says. That means it also will be cooler inside the building, he says, saving energy.

[Chuckiechan]

Don't come bitching to me when you open your door to get your newspaper and you bang your head on a glacier!

White = snow (basically). So by creating "snow" in places like Sacramento where it does not snow is messing with nature's plan. The natural color of most of Sacramento is green in the winter, and brown in the summer. Never white, and never year around.

[SiliconJon]

Don't come bitching to me when you open your door to get your newspaper and you bang your head on a glacier!

White = snow (basically). So by creating "snow" in places like Sacramento where it does not snow is messing with nature's plan. The natural color of most of Sacramento is green in the winter, and brown in the summer. Never white, and never year around.

Did someone fail to properly apply any thought to the matter? How does that statement hold up when contemplating that nature does put up black tar roofs, either? (or whatever dark colored, light to heat converting roof top may be there)

And by that logic would painting our roofs green turn CO2 into O2 in a color mimic of nature? lol, I know...that's ridiculous. I can't help myself when I click on CHuckie's "view post"...

But anyway, for warmer climates that's a bright idea. Don't let your logic fail you fellas simply because there may be some bad ideas attached to good ones.

For colder climates that roof heat needs to not only be generated, but harnessed into the living areas for temperature or electrical usage.

[Gomer]

There's nothing wrong with white roofs.

But green roofs are the answer to a lot of the problems caused by urbanization and are also more energy efficient.

[Chuckiechan]

And who is going to mow my roof?

And if it dies in the summer, I guess I have to pay to have it replanted?

[Gomer]

They do not need to be mowed.

They are not appropriate for all environments, but can be planted with drought resistant plants.

Are you acting stupid to try to get a rise out of people?

[Gomer]

And painting roofs is a start... but is nowhere near what we should actually be doing as far as the requirements for new construction go. LEED certification of new buildings should not be an option, but a requirement:
California Academy of Sciences - Newsroom

Overview The California Academy of Sciences is building a dynamic new facility that will transform the museum into one of the world's leading scientific and cultural institutions. The new design, which features a living roof, will integrate the Academy more sensitively into Golden Gate Park and make nature a part of the building's structure. With its environmentally-sensitive design, the new building will be an expression of the Academy's mission to explore, explain, and protect the natural world.

LEED Rating
There are varying shades of green as measured by the U.S. Green Building Council through its LEED™ (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) rating system. Through all aspects of design and construction, the Academy will strive to achieve the highest rating: LEED platinum. When it opens in 2008, the Academy expects to be the largest public LEED platinum building in the world.

A Pilot Project
The new Academy is one of ten pilot "green building" projects of the San Francisco Department of the Environment, part of a vanguard initiative to develop models for workable, sustainable public architecture.

Energy Efficiency
The new Academy will consume 30-35% less energy than required by code.

Heat and Humidity

• Radiant floor heating will reduce energy needs by 5-10%.
• Heat recovery systems will capture and utilize heat produced by HVAC equipment, reducing heating energy use.
• The planted roof will provide a superior thermal insulating layer for the building, reducing energy needs for air-conditioning.
• High-performance glass will be used throughout the building, reducing standard levels of heat absorption and decreasing the cooling load.
• Reverse osmosis humidification systems will be used to keep the research collections at a constant humidity level, reducing energy consumption for humidification by 95%.

Natural Light and Ventilation

• At least 90% of regularly occupied spaces will have access to daylight and outside views, reducing energy use and heat gain from electric lighting.
• The undulating roofline will draw cool air into the open piazza at the center of the building, naturally ventilating the surrounding exhibit spaces. Skylights in the roof will automatically open and close to vent hot air out through the tops of the domes.
• The skylights are strategically placed to allow natural sunlight to reach the living rainforest and coral reef.
• Motorized windows will automatically open and shut to allow cool air into the building. Operable windows will also be employed in staff offices.
• Photosensors in the lighting system will automatically dim artificial lights in response to daylight penetration, reducing the energy necessary to illuminate interior spaces.

Renewable Energy

• A solar canopy around the perimeter of the roof containing 60,000 photo voltaic cells will supply almost 213,000 kWh of clean energy per year (at least 5% of the new Academy's energy needs), and prevent the release of more than 405,000 pounds of greenhouse gas emissions annually.
• The multi-crystalline cells are the most energy efficient cells on the market, achieving at least 20% efficiency.

Water Efficiency

• By absorbing rainwater, the new Academy's living roof will prevent over 2 million gallons of storm water per year from carrying pollutants into the ecosystem.
• Reclaimed water from the City of San Francisco will be used to flush the toilets, reducing the use of potable water for wastewater conveyance by 90% percent.
• Due to both low-low fixtures and the use of reclaimed water, overall potable water use will be 30% less than baseline.
• Saltwater for the aquariums will be piped in from the Pacific Ocean. Nitrate wastes will be purified with natural systems, ensuring that aquarium water can be recycled.

Recycled Building Materials

• Over 90% of the demolition waste from the old Academy was recycled. 9,000 tons of concrete were reused in Richmond roadway construction, 12,000 tons of steel were recycled and went to Schnitzer Steel, and 120 tons of greenwaste were recycled on site.
• At least 50% of the wood in the new Academy will be sustainably harvested and certified by the Forest Stewardship Council.
• Recycled steel will be used for 100% of the building’s structural steel.
• The insulation that will be installed in the building’s walls is made from recycled blue jeans. The product contains 85% post-industrial recycled content and uses cotton, a rapidly renewable resource, as one of its main ingredients.
• All concrete will contain 30% fly ash, a by-product of coal-fired power plants.

The Living Roof

• A new link in an ecological corridor for wildlife, the new Academy's living roof will be planted with nine native California species that will not require artificial irrigation. The planted area will be measure 2.5 acres, creating the largest swath of native vegetation in San Francisco.
• Approximately 1.7 million plants will blanket the living roof.
• The native plants will provide habitat for a wide variety of wildlife. Beach strawberries (Fragaria chiloensis) produce berries that attract native birds, self heal (Prunella vulgaris) bears large tubular flowers that attract hummingbirds and bumble bees, sea pink (Armeria maritime) produces pom-pom-like flowers favored by moths and butterflies, stonecrop (Sedum spathulitholium) produces nectar for the the threatened San Bruno elfin butterfly, tidy tips (Layia platyglossa) attract parasitic wasps and pirate bugs that feed on pest insects, miniature lupine (Lupinus bicolor) and California poppies (Eschscholzia californica) provide nectar for bees and butterflies, California plantain (Plantago erecta) hosts a variety of butterfly larvae, and the bright yellow flowers produced by Goldfield plants (Lasthenia californica) attract a wide variety of beneficial native insects.
• The insulation that will be installed in the building’s walls is made from recycled blue jeans. The product contains 85% post-industrial recycled content and uses cotton, a rapidly renewable resource, as one of its main ingredients.

Transportation

• The new Academy will provide secure bicycle parking at the front and back entrances, as well as an electric car recharging station at the loading dock. Staff members will be compensated for using public transportation.
• Local materials and products manufactured within 500 miles of the Academy will account for at least 20% of building materials. This reduces transportation impacts and supports the regional economy.

[tony_j15]

White = snow (basically). So by creating "snow" in places like Sacramento where it does not snow is messing with nature's plan.

So building houses (which is obviously not part of nature's plan) is ok, but if we paint the roof white, we're going to cause irreparable harm?

[Chuckiechan]

What is the greenhouse cost to add extra reinforcement to roof and walls? Plus adding extra irrigation and drainage from the roof?

How long is the payback?

[Gomer]

The extra structural cost is insignificant compared to the energy savings. Off the cuff, payback is less than 10 years. The roofs also tend to have longer design lifes than traditional roofing methods.

Irrigation is not required.

There is no extra drainage. In fact, that is one of the biggest benefits to green roofs. Stormwater management. Green roofs decrease the rate of runoff which reduces flooding. Decreasing the rate of runoff allows for smaller on site detention/retention facilities which also represents a saving. They decrease the temperature rise of the water running off the roof which improves watercourse quality. They filter pollutants from rainwater which is also beneficial to surface water quality.

In addition to all of that, there are the energy savings, a reduction in the urban heat island effect, and additional habitat for animals and insects.

[Chuckiechan]

The extra structural cost is insignificant compared to the energy savings. Off the cuff, payback is less than 10 years. The roofs also tend to have longer design lifes than traditional roofing methods.

Care to show the math?

Basically, you are saying landscaping bark would be better than asphalt shingles.

What's underneath? Palm fronds?

Do you water you roof? Or is it Frankengrass that doesn't need water?

[Gomer]

Care to show the math?

If I get the time.

Basically, you are saying landscaping bark would be better than asphalt shingles.

What's underneath? Palm fronds?

No that is not what I'm saying. It is typically a rubberized membrane underneath the other materials. The green roofs typically last much longer because the materials that are waterproofing the roof are protected from destructive UV light and high and low temperature extremes that degrade and stress material due to expansion and contraction.

Do you water you roof? Or is it Frankengrass that doesn't need water?

See my previous post. The roofs are typically planted with drought resistant vegetation. They do not require watering.

Here, Chuck:
Green roof - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Read it.

[surreal]

Chuck, you keep sheep on the roof, and they mow it!

Actually having a white roof seems like it would make a lot of sense somewhere like here. I caught myself thinking about getting a white car and I hate white cars, but I hate hot ones more.


edited for OMG what in the heck did I type the first time?

[Chuckiechan]

I can just imagine how bright my neighborhood will be with all of the reflection from white roofs that are peaked and not flat.

I hope the sheep are wearing sunglasses.

[The Real Bingo]

These green roofs are mostly beneficial for urban areas where buildings are densely arranged. There's no real "macro" effect by putting them on buildings in the country or the spread-out suburbs. It would be interesting to see more pop up around the world...having more greenery in the city couldn't hurt things...could it?

[surreal]

I can just imagine how bright my neighborhood will be with all of the reflection from white roofs that are peaked and not flat.

I hope the sheep are wearing sunglasses.

Might cause a problem with the airlines too... back to the drawing board.

[Chuckiechan]

Let's start slowly and cautiously.

Paint the top of the heads of all of the bald guys...and see how that works, first before jumping off on a new fad...

[surreal]

I wonder if everyone in New York City had to wear a white hat outside, and all the cars had to be white how much that would help?

[brandon184]

Might cause a problem with the airlines too... back to the drawing board.

I would think that the metal roofs you already see in many industrial-type buildings would cause more problems than white roofs. A white roof will simply be white... it's not a mirror.

[surreal]

Think sunlight on the snow...I'm whispering for you