TheSpread.com

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.

But he warned there was no silver bullet for tackling climate change, and said a range of measures should be introduced, including painting flat roofs white.

Making roads and roofs a paler colour could have the equivalent effect of taking every car in the world off the road for 11 years, Chu said.

It was a geo-engineering scheme that was "completely benign" and would keep buildings cooler and reduce energy use from air conditioning, as well as reflecting sunlight back away from the Earth.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20090526/sc … atewarm...


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I was just reading about something like this on a DIY green website. You can also put up a reflective sheet or tarp on your roof that will reflect sunlight as well as and years to your roof. Wonder if planes or birds will like it though.

I've always wondered why we don't have light roofs that would reflect sun when the sun is at it's highest, in the summer, and have darker walls for when the sun is lower in the winter.