Published By: Sreyanshi

The “White Roof Project”: the most cost-efficient way of fighting climate change yet

Lead:  There may be a hidden opportunity to reduce our expenses and environmental effect.

Reduce your electricity costs by 40% by painting your roof white.

The cost of 1.9 million USD is not necessary to have a beneficial environmental impact. There are easy ways to save money and protect the environment! You might not have considered how the color of your roof affects the surroundings, but be ready for a surprise. In many American cities, the tar-based roofs are black and absorb the heat of the summer. Both money and energy are lost trying to cool these structures. The "White Roof Project" has come up with a simple yet brilliant solution: painting rooftops with solar-reflective white paint.

This idea was pursued by architect AND-RÉ, who created a collection of hotels that were fully painted white. He set out to create a holistic and relaxing setting in addition to taking the environmental factor into account. Environmentally minded guests at the White Wolf Hotel may rest easy.

Why Rooftop Gardens May Be Better Than White Roof Painting

According to others, the "White Roof Project" is just a cheaper version of Rooftop Gardens, the lush vegetated roofs that are starting to take the place of black roofs. The reverse, according to research, is true:
  • Green roofs are more expensive over the course of their life cycle than white or black roofs.
  • White roofs are more cost-effective over the course of their life cycle than black roofs.
  • Green roofs have longer installation and repair costs than useful lifespan.
  • Phasing out dark roofs in favor of green and white roofs is good for general public health.
  • Green roofs are three times less efficient in cooling the planet than white roofs.
These details make it obvious that the "White Roof Project" is the more environmentally friendly path.

Thinking Fiscally And Environmentally With White Roofs

The benefits of a white roof over a traditional black roof are generally accepted. The majority of black roofs are constructed of roofing tar, an oily, dark compound that also contains mineral fillers, surface adherents, and solvents. The farthest thing from being ecologically conscious. The environmental and financial costs of cooling the inside of the building and maintaining the roofs are high due to how much heat these dark roofs absorb. especially when creating a favorable effect is as simple as installing a white roof. White roofs have long been supported by even former US President Bill Clinton:

"Every black roof in New York should be white," said Bill adding as should every roof in Chicago and every roof in Little Rock. He said, every roof with a flat tar surface should all be white! In the majority of these locations, the labour and paint costs may be recovered in a week.

Argument in opposition: Refracted sunlight may make it more difficult for clouds to block off light.

So, should we all head to the neighborhood home improvement store and stock up on white paint? Not yet, exactly. Researchers Ten Hoeve and Mark Z. Jacobson from Stanford University conducted studies, and their findings support an alternative interpretation of the data: the white coating's reflecting properties may actually prevent the development of cloud forms that would otherwise hide the light. Additionally, these structures with white roofs lack the benefits of rooftop gardens that are green. Neither does it lessen rainfall runoff nor does it increase a building's insulation.

However, it is evident that both white and green rooftops are environmentally friendly and climate change aware.

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