Urban heat islands are known to drive up ambient temperatures, but could light-coloured roofs be the silver bullet in reducing Australia’s suburban swelter?
A sprawling population and the popularity of black or near-black roofing is creating urban heat islands across Australia's cities and regional centres, an energy scientist says.
Dr Sadeghi says that in contrast, cool roofs can decrease the peak ambient temperature in parts of our cities from between 1.1C to 1.4C."Research shows that cool roofs decrease in average the surface temperature between 5C to 7C in high-density parts of the cities," Dr Sadeghi says.Newer housing developments are typically cheek by jowl in largely treeless streetscapes.
"If your goal is to lessen the annual energy use, then in a heating-dominated climate, a dark roof isn't a problem. But if your goal is to be climate safe in a warming climate, a light roof would be better.""It's a tricky one because you are balancing the year-round energy needs versus the acute impact of really hot weather," he says.
Mr Adams says some developers have a strict design palette, offering only two or three roof colour choices. "A giant flat mass will absorb heat during the day and radiate the heat at night, whereas complex surfaces are much better."How to get your power bill down to $60 a month
United Kingdom Latest News, United Kingdom Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Why health and wellbeing should be at centre of urban planningScientists are examining how building and use of infrastructure relates to the burden of illness
Read more »
‘Rapid rate’: Disaster engulfing AustraliaANALYSIS
Read more »
Cost of living Australia: Engineers and cyber talent earn big bucks as other tech workers sufferDay rates for most IT contractors are failing to keep pace with inflation, but cybersecurity experts and software developers are doing just fine.
Read more »
‘A position of unofficial war’: Artist Richard Bell’s view of post-Voice AustraliaThe Indigenous activist’s call for the government to begin treaty negotiations.
Read more »
Swimming Australia avoids drastic takeover after historic constitution changeWorld Aquatics threatened to force the country’s governing body to push through reform. But squabbling Australian swimming organisations have voted through the necessary change.
Read more »
Swimming Australia avoids drastic takeover after historic constitution changeWorld Aquatics threatened to force the country’s governing body to push through reform. But squabbling Australian swimming organisations have voted through the necessary change.
Read more »