White. It's what you wear in the sun to keep cool. Party tents are white. Boats are white. Any kid in elementary school can tell you why: white is a reflective color; light and energy (heat) bounces off of it easily.
Now, through the amazing act of SCIENCE, the Center for Atmospheric Research has concluded from a recent study that painting the roofs of houses and buildings white can drastically change climate (to .7 degrees). Pretty significant, eh? So how does it work? The asphalt that makes up city streets absorbs energy and tall buildings trap heat close to the surface. By painting roofs white, it helps reflect the sun's energy, so the city absorbs less.
How can this help you in everyday life? When retiling your roof, make sure to use light colored tiles. Not planning to do that anytime soon? Use the natural properties of color to help paint your home for your climate. You live in a desert? Use light, reflective colors to direct heat away from your home. Live in a place where it snows 80 percent of the year? Use rich, darker colors to absorb energy and heat, to make your home cozy.
Check out treehugger.com for more on the topic: http://bit.ly/92iELV
No comments:
Post a Comment