Cool Roofs and Polar Ice Caps

The U.S. is pioneering a method of reducing global warming called 'cool roofs'. It basically consists of replacing existing roofs with ones which reflect a high proportion of solar energy that hits them back out into space, and therefore prevents it from adding to climate change.

Sounds weird doesn't it? But it's based on an existing effect that the polar ice caps already provide for us.

Unfortunately, the Arctic ice cap is fast disappearing (20 to 25% lost since 1979). As a result, more solar energy is staying down here and heating up the atmosphere.....which, in turn, leads to more loss of ice, and so on.

So, I guess, the ice caps need a little help until we get round to curbing CO2. Hence, cool roofs.

Strictly speaking, cool roofs come under the heading of 'geo-engineering' which, as you may know, I don't agree with. However, this one seems comparatively harmless and is based on something Nature already does for us.

Cool roofs come with an added bonus: Use them in a hot climate and you'll find that you need less air-con. That's because the roofs prevent your building heating up as much. So they have a dual effect on climate change.

Sadly, I don't think they'd be as good in cooler climates. You'd probably have to turn your heating up in the Winter.

Another, more general, problem, might be trying to keep the roofs reflective. Most of them are white or pale colours, so they'd tend to build up grime and bird mess. What then? I guess the on-going maintenance costs will be more than out-weighed by the savings made on turning down your air-con.

The EU plan on backing a similar scheme to the US in the near future.