Builders have known for many years that white roofs reflect () sunlight and lower the cost of air conditioning ().
Builders
have
known
for
many
years
that
white
roofs
reflect
(
)
sunlight
and
lower
the
cost
of
air
conditioning
(
)
.
But now scientists say they have found a new advantage: slowing global warming.
But
now
scientists
say
they
have
found
a
new
advantage
:
slowing
global
warming
.
Hashem Akbari believes that whitening 100 of the world's largest cities could make the influence of the expected emissions () smaller over the next ten years.
Hashem
Akbari
believes
that
whitening
100
of
the
world
's
largest
cities
could
make
the
influence
of
the
expected
emissions
(
)
smaller
over
the
next
ten
years
.
White buildings and surfaces reflect far more sunlight than dark ones.
White
buildings
and
surfaces
reflect
far
more
sunlight
than
dark
ones
.
Reflected sunlight does not increase the greenhouse effect (), unlike the heat energy sent out by dark surfaces heated by the sun.
Reflected
sunlight
does
not
increase
the
greenhouse
effect
(
)
,
unlike
the
heat
energy
sent
out
by
dark
surfaces
heated
by
the
sun
.
Dr Akbari, of the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, California, also argues that If built-up areas were made white, less heat would stay within them, allowing people to use their air conditioners less, which use a lot of power.
Dr
Akbari
,
of
the
Lawrence
Berkeley
National
Laboratory
,
California
,
also
argues
that
If
built-up
areas
were
made
white
,
less
heat
would
stay
within
them
,
allowing
people
to
use
their
air
conditioners
less
,
which
use
a
lot
of
power
.
Dr Akbari has found out that making 100 of the largest cities white would increase the sunlight reflected by Earth by 0.
Dr
Akbari
has
found
out
that
making
100
of
the
largest
cities
white
would
increase
the
sunlight
reflected
by
Earth
by
0
.
03%.
03
%
.
He believes it would cancel out () the warming caused by 44 billion tons of carbon () emissions.
He
believes
it
would
cancel
out
(
)
the
warming
caused
by
44
billion
tons
of
carbon
(
)
emissions
.
"Roofs are going to have to be changed one by one and to make that effort at a very local level, we need to have an organization to make it happen," says Dr Akbari.
``
Roofs
are
going
to
have
to
be
changed
one
by
one
and
to
make
that
effort
at
a
very
local
level
,
we
need
to
have
an
organization
to
make
it
happen
,
''
says
Dr
Akbari
.
He argues that while the action would not solve the problem of climate change.
He
argues
that
while
the
action
would
not
solve
the
problem
of
climate
change
.
it would slow it.
it
would
slow
it
.
"We can give the environment time to breathe," he says.
``
We
can
give
the
environment
time
to
breathe
,
''
he
says
.
"I just don't see a disadvantage of this idea.
``
I
just
do
n't
see
a
disadvantage
of
this
idea
.
It gives everybody advantages and you don't have to make hard efforts to make it happen."
It
gives
everybody
advantages
and
you
do
n't
have
to
make
hard
efforts
to
make
it
happen
.
''
Akbari and his partners say they will try to persuade the United Nations to organize big cities to change the materials of their roofs.
Akbari
and
his
partners
say
they
will
try
to
persuade
the
United
Nations
to
organize
big
cities
to
change
the
materials
of
their
roofs
.
Builders have known for many years that white roofs reflect () sunlight and lower the cost of air conditioning (). But now scientists say they have found a new advantage: slowing global warming.  Hashem Akbari believes that whitening 100 of the world's largest cities could make the influence of the expected emissions () smaller over the next ten years. White buildings and surfaces reflect far more sunlight than dark ones. Reflected sunlight does not increase the greenhouse effect (), unlike the heat energy sent out by dark surfaces heated by the sun.  Dr Akbari, of the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, California, also argues that If built-up areas were made white, less heat would stay within them, allowing people to use their air conditioners less, which use a lot of power.  Dr Akbari has found out that making 100 of the largest cities white would increase the sunlight reflected by Earth by 0. 03%. He believes it would cancel out () the warming caused by 44 billion tons of carbon () emissions.  "Roofs are going to have to be changed one by one and to make that effort at a very local level, we need to have an organization to make it happen," says Dr Akbari.  He argues that while the action would not solve the problem of climate change. it would slow it.  "We can give the environment time to breathe," he says. "I just don't see a disadvantage of this idea. It gives everybody advantages and you don't have to make hard efforts to make it happen."  Akbari and his partners say they will try to persuade the United Nations to organize big cities to change the materials of their roofs.