White is cool

There's a study out from NASA that shows the folks at Tree Fresno are doing more than beautifying Fresno with their projects, they're cooling the city as well.

But there is more we can do to defeat the heat. Most folks are putting dark tile or composition roofs on their homes when they build or reroof. According to NASA's study -- wrong choice for a hot city like ours! Well, the materials are probably fine, but the color just won't do. We should have white roofs.

"We found that vegetation is a powerful cooling mechanism," according to a spokesman on the Web site http://www.nasa.gov/vision/earth/environment/nyc_heatisland.html.

"It appears to be the most effective tool to reduce surface temperatures. Another effective approach is a man-made approach to cooling by making very bright, high albedo, or reflected light, on roof tops. These light-colored surfaces, best made using white coatings, reflect the sun's light and thereby, its heat."

Well, that makes sense. Now, about that dark gray tile we just put on our roof that's designed to last a lifetime -- oopsie.