Posted on 07/26/2006 2:26:04 PM PDT by calcowgirl
California's growth patterns -- the migration to hot inland regions, construction of big new homes and paving of open space -- are contributing both to increasing temperatures and record demand for electricity.
Experts say development choices can play a large role in making hot weather even hotter.
"People usually talk of greenhouse gases. What's forgotten is what we've actually done to the surface of the planet,'' said Bill Patzert, a climatologist at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena.
"I call it extreme makeover warming.''
The housing boom in places like the Central Valley causes growing electricity demand during heat waves, said Arthur H. Rosenfeld, a member of the California Energy Commission.
"The air-conditioning load is going up like mad because of new communities in hot places,'' Rosenfeld said. "If it wasn't for that, our energy efficiency programs are so good that we would be bringing down energy use per capita.''
(snip)
Local, state and federal officials are trying to lower energy consumption by combatting the "heat island" effect.
Heat islands are caused when natural vegetation is replaced by roofs, concrete, asphalt and other urban fixtures that more easily absorb and emit solar heat, particularly at night.
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, urban and suburban heat islands can produce temperatures 2 to 10 degrees hotter than nearby rural areas. The heat islands can also aggravate smog, which worsens in hot weather.
After studying a handful of cities, including Sacramento, the federal EPA is promoting efforts to cool cities through planting trees, lightening the color of road surfaces, installing rooftop gardens and other strategies.
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
The best way to conserve one source of energy is to substitute another that is cheaper and/or more efficient. All the "greenie" proposals are neither.
Having just completed a 3,000 mile motorcycle trip, much of it in over 100 degree weather, I can vouch for the fact that BLACK asphalt is much hotter than GREY asphalt. Let's stop w/ the BLACK already.
Oh Please!
I show 111deg on my porch yesterday...105 today.
It was only like 109 in my neighborhood yesterday, but the 5 days previously were just horrible with the monsoonal humidity and 114+ temps. Bleh, Alaska is looking better and better to me.
I think we should stop the growth.
>:-<
Believe me, I'll take 9 months/yr of paradise over 2 months/yr any day:)
In Seattle it's miserable for a full 6 months...marginal for another 4. White folks are GHOSTLY white...I got my fill of it.
Oh yeah, the the thermomolator in my Tahoe said it was 120 on Saturday...the "official" Phoenix high was 118.
Yes, the urban heat island effect is quite real and very different from global warming theory. But what the media and professor conveniently don't mention is that their preferred dense development makes the heat island effect far worse than low density suburbs with more grass and trees and much wider building spacing.
68 degrees on Sunday.
But it's a dry heat.:)
Not yet bannie. My wife's family has some land they have to sell first. THEN we'll limit growth.
You said that very well!
It's always hotter in the city and cooler in the rural areas, makes sense to me.
HAHAHA! Sell it to someone who already lives here! ;-)
They tried, but the buyer backed out.
(mumbles something about "damned locals"...)
:-)
LOL! How ever did you handle it? ;-)
It sounds delightful!
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