Posted on 05/26/2009 8:59:19 AM PDT by Sub-Driver
Professor Steven Chu: paint the world white to fight global warming
Mark Henderson, Science Editor
The Nobel prize-winning physicist appointed by President Obama as US Energy Secretary wants to change the colour of roofs, roads and pavements so they reflect more of the Sun’s light and heat to combat global warming, he said today.
Professor Steven Chu, speaking at the opening of the St James’s Palace Nobel Laureate Symposium, for which The Times is media partner, said this simple and “completely benign” approach to “geo-engineering” could have a vast impact at low cost.
By lightening all paved surfaces and roofs to the colour of cement, it would be possible to reduce carbon emissions by as much as taking all the world’s cars off the roads for 11 years, he said.
Building regulations should insist that all flat roofs are painted white, while visible tilted roofs could be painted with “cool coloured” paints that look normal, but which absorb much less heat than conventional dark surfaces. Roads could be lightened to a concrete colour so they do not dazzle drivers in bright sunlight.
“I think with flat-type roofs you can’t even see, yes, I think you should regulate quite frankly,” Professor Chu said. “I would be in favour of that.”
Asked whether governments should be promoting white paint as a solution to climate change, he said: “Yes, absolutely? White roofs everywhere, yes.”
(Excerpt) Read more at timesonline.co.uk ...
I had to make sure this wasn’t satire. It’s so hard to tell when Liberals open their mouths whether it’s satire or not.
ooooh MR. cHU....DAY NOT GONNA LIKE DA WHITE!
How does this reduce emissions? LOL! What an idiot.
racist!
Exactly. I wonder what Dr. Chu knows the carbon numbers on the increased production of white paint? The amount of white paint needed to do this UNECESSARY task would be, in my estimate, an order of magnitude more than is currently in demand.
Why can’t these ‘doctors’ think before engaging their mouths?
Ordinary humans can barely comprehend it.
So that is why Bill Clinton went jogging in those short shorts?
His white legs reflected the sunlight, which in turn helped fight global warming?
mirrored roofs!!!!!!!!yeah, that’s the ticket!
>> The amount of white paint needed to do this UNECESSARY task would be, in my estimate, an order of magnitude more than is currently in demand.
I think you’re underestimating — by a LOT.
As I seem to recall from my sailor days, once you paint something, you’ll be painting it again. And again. And again. And...
Here’s your answer:
By reflecting the light and heat instead of absorbing it in buildings and pavement,
it will reduce the load on air conditioning systems,
and that will reduce demand for electricity,
which reduces emissions required to make electricity.
That’s the theory. Did you hear they’re not allowing black cars to be sold in California for the same reason?
Typical liberal nutbar solution.
But what about in the winter when the dark roofs absorb heat (a little) and then we don’t have to run furnaces as much? Don’t furnaces emit CO2 also?
I guess they need jobs for all those new young “volunteers” they are going to conscript - they will make them roof police.
I thought this guy was smart. He sounds like just another
Gore-moron to me.
Amen. And all that chipping in between paint jobs.
True, true, true.
Dang. I just got back from my trip to the hardware store to buy my tire pressure gauge. Now I have to burn more fuel to go buy paint!
don’t forget primer....
Hopefully he will talk this up...but I suspect he will get orders to keep quiet.
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