PAINT FLAT ROOFS WHILE THE SUN IS SHINING SAYS ENERGY CHAMPION (York Liberal Democrats)

York Liberal Democrats <info@yorklibdems.org.uk>

PAINT FLAT ROOFS WHILE THE SUN IS SHINING SAYS ENERGY CHAMPION

June 6, 2009 12:00 AM

Councillor Christian Vassie, the Council's Energy Champion is calling on builders and planners in York help to combat climate change by painting flat roofs across the city white.

Councillor Vassie said, "Most people will never see the flat roofs on buildings across the city so this very simple measure would hardly be noticed, yet it could reduce the city's contribution to climate change."

"Pale surfaces reflect up to 80% of the sunlight that falls on them back into space, compared to dark surfaces which only reflect 20%, absorbing the rest and creating infrared radiation which is blocked by greenhouse gases, causing global warming."

The idea comes from California which, since 2005, has required all flat roofs on commercial buildings to be white.

"Scientists estimate that small measures like lightening the colour of flat roofs could have as much impact as taking all the world's cars off the road for 11 years."

Councillor Vassie said adopting the idea was one of a number of very simple ways in which the city could help combat climate change by reducing the amount of solar radiation absorbed by the earth.

In the summer months, when the sun is high in the sky, the flat roofs would reflect the solar radiation keeping buildings cooler and reducing the amount of energy used to keep temperatures down.

While during winter months, the sun is much lower in the sky and has a much more limited warming effect. Less heat would be reflected by the white flat roofs during winter and buildings with painted flat roofs would not need any more heating in winter than they do now.

Councillor Vassie said, "It may not feel like we get a lot of sunshine in this country and each step may only save a relatively small amount of CO2 but added together small steps can make a big difference."