US wants to paint the world white to save energy

AFP via Yahoo ^ | 5/26/2009 | AFP

[StandUpChuck]

LONDON(AFP) (AFP) – US Energy Secretary Steven Chu said Tuesday the Obama administration wanted to paint roofs an energy-reflecting white, as he took part in a climate change symposium in London.

The Nobel laureate in physics called for a "new revolution" in energy generation to cut greenhouse gas emissions.

[HereInTheHeartland]

I have an easier idea that would be similar to the whitewash idea.
We will just go to a 10 month calendar; and skip July and August. The calendar will just advance from the end of June right to September 1st.

[synbad600]

Don’t tell George Obama over there in his Hut-Sweet-Hut. Next thing ya know he’ll have to paint the dirt floor white, too.

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

At least the WWII drives were aimed at aiding the armed forces of our country during the existential crisis of that era. This is being proposed to fight something that might affect us with as little as a 1 deg C rise in temperature this century, barring a sudden turn toward permanently cooler temperatures.

[GAB-1955]

What’s stupid about it? It’s low cost and saves on heating bills. Like tire pressure, it’s picking the low-hanging fruit. I’d rather not have the Government mandate such things, but suggesting them is fine by me.

[I got the rope]

Ok...I hope people don’t take this the wrong way BUT...my first thought after reading this was that Chu is a fag.

Homosexual Steve wants to paint the roofs white...hmmmm.

[hattend]

WTF, over!

[MinuteGal]

Mayor Daley turns the Chicago River green every St. Patrick's Day. Maybe the Messiah can turn the oceans and waterways of the world white with a wave of his hand. That would REALLY be energy-saving.

I've arrived at the conclusion that all Nobel Laureasses should be waterboarded and locked up in Guatanamo for a period of thirty years to life with no possibility of parole.

Leni

[Gondring]

In all seriousness, I’m not sure how much of an effect this would actually have, since most of America isn’t covered by roofs.

It's not to reflect the sunlight off the earth; it's to reduce the need for cooling in structures.

[Gondring]

It was done for a while in the 70s, when energy costs were high in relative terms (for example, see SWEPCO, which has been around since 1933). When energy costs dropped, the market fell for such products, but it does make sense under the right market conditions.

[Gondring]

What’s stupid about it? It’s low cost and saves on heating bills. Like tire pressure, it’s picking the low-hanging fruit. I’d rather not have the Government mandate such things, but suggesting them is fine by me.

Because that would mean giving up the ignorance of science that so many FReepers are proud of displaying in knee-jerk fashion.

[Gondring]

You ask many questions, apparently without simple skills in Internet research. So I'll give you one example of an answer: swepco...since 1933

They are all insaneinformed.

[UCANSEE2]

As sanity check, if painting roofs white saves “11 car-years” of energy and it’s so easy, why don’t we do it already?

Uh... because you have to paint them black each winter.

Nobody likes painting their roof twice each year.

[I got the rope]

Kool Seal

[BookmanTheJanitor]

Ted Danson frowns at this thread...

[MontaniSemperLiberi]

It was done for a while in the 70s, when energy costs were high in relative terms (for example, see SWEPCO, which has been around since 1933). When energy costs dropped, the market fell for such products, but it does make sense under the right market conditions.

I'm sure aluminum roofs have been around for a long time but they act as much as a barrier to heat transfer since they act as a shield from the heat coming from the inside. Note that there are a lot of metal roofs yet many of them are painted. Aluminum tank trailers work because the fuel is in direct conductive contact with the metal tank.

[Gondring]

Did you not click on the other products on the left, such as the titanium-dioxide-based ones?

[Gondring]

Kool Seal

It's a miracle!!! ;-)

[TangoLimaSierra]

As sanity check, if painting roofs white saves “11 car-years” of energy and it’s so easy, why don’t we do it already?

Uh... because you have to paint them black each winter.

Nobody likes painting their roof twice each year.

BINGO

[reformedliberal]

Thank you.

Of course, my questions where rhetorical and I still doubt the efficiency of putting systems meant for industrial flat roofs on peaked, shingled roofs in areas which have heavy snows. I couldn’t find specs relative to an older home like mine. I’d like to know the weight and cost of these systems. Perhaps when I have the time, I can research further.

Since you live in Pennsylvania, tell us how you have applied this information.

[Former Fetus]

As sanity check, if painting roofs white saves “11 car-years” of energy and it’s so easy, why don’t we do it already?

Uh... because you have to paint them black each winter.

Nobody likes painting their roof twice each year.

I want to buy stock in the company that sells "roof paint". Better, how about stock in the company that sells "asphalt paint"?