Hate to rain on your roof Brett...

But alternating black and white roofs don't go with the color of my house. Decorator's nightmare.

This would probably work in urban areas where you don't have to look at roofs, but in places like the Southwest where you have Spanish architecture, and a lot of red roofs or adobe looking roofs, ewwwww, who wants a black and white roof. Although in hot areas the roofs would mainly be white year around.

I'm sure the Prius "people" will probably snap these up no matter how much they cost, oooooh, oooooh, look at me, I am environmentally wonderful.

Not to worry though, probably after the cap and tax bill has passed, it might be followed up with a government regulated "How Americans Must Live" bill that will mandate we all paint our roofs white after moving to government run cube housing after having to get rid of all cars except government approved 2 wheel transportation vehicles.

Brett,
The roof temperature is not the same as the house temperature.

Reply: No kidding Leonard. (I know that). Good points though below.

Attic space and insulation separate them. In addition, if it ever snowed on the black roof, the black effect would be lost. Others have looked at this idea (including me), and concluded it is at most a small gain for a possibly costly effort. Shade from tree location, which changes during winter when leaves are lost, and window treatment (darken in summer and lighten in winter)can have much larger effects.

"It can end up canceling out the energy savings that you made in the summer."

Studies I've read show that white roofs are still a net gain in most locations (Sun is lower in the winter, higher in the summer for instance), but this is potentially a great invention, nonetheless.

Going to take at least 30 years to establish that these tiles last as long as other roofing. That is a mjor factor in appropriate roofing materials.

Black or white?

That is the color of the tile to your eye. What is important is whether is absorbs or reflect heat (infrared).
Look up "heat absorbing glass". You can see through it, but will not let IR through.
To me it sounds like another gimmick.

Not all brilliant ideas are good ideas.

Just who paid for this garbage anyway?

That and LCD windows that tint automatically are both nice convienience technologies.

Won't affect GW in any way but will save some money.

On another encouraging note, timesonline reports the obvious.
About time.

Exaggerated claims undermine drive to cut emissions, scientists warn.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/science/earth-environment/article6896152.ece

You know what? The only invention that I really see is the invention of global warming. How did you get sucked into this hoax? It sickens me to see so many people taken in by one of the greatest hoax of the new century. Some people will swallow anything.

"Not to worry though, probably after the cap and tax bill has passed, it might be followed up with a government regulated "How Americans Must Live" bill that will mandate"

Bluh, bluh, bluh, more anti-government rhetoric. All together now, kids: YAWN.

BTW, Mary and the rest of you Deniers, the economy grew 3.5% this quarter. So much for the right-wingers' trickle-down philosophy. The reason your 401(k) is up 50% this year is because the government you hate so much intervened into the mess your ilk created.

"But alternating black and white roofs don't go with the color of my house. Decorator's nightmare."

The houses in Greece are famous for their white roofs. Everyone I know that has been to Greece say they're beautiful. Then again, what do they know -- I'm sure the architecture of the houses in rural Pennsylvania are so much better.

Kicking around Deniers is getting toooooo easy!

the economy grew 3.5% this quarter.

REPLY: As unemployment rises to near 10% Yeah, the economy is really growing under Obamanomics. Oh sure, spend more, President Obama. Please!!! Send us into the abyss of hyper-inflation and massive debt!! Great Job!!!

Bluh, bluh, bluh, more anti-government rhetoric. All together now, kids: YAWN.

REPLY: You really need to do something about that sleep-apnia problem. I am sure you'd be much happier if you do. But then again, you libs are perpetually miserable people. Oh well, guess I was wrong with that diagnosis.

The houses in Greece are famous for their white roofs. Everyone I know that has been to Greece say they're beautiful. Then again, what do they know -- I'm sure the architecture of the houses in rural Pennsylvania are so much better.

REPLY: Ya know, Mark, you are free to move to Greece. No one is stopping you. If you think you would be happier (yeah right) living anywhere outside of the USA, who's policies suit your enviro-loon causes, then by all means, Bon Voyage! And don't let the door hit you on the way out, either. Yia-Sou and Kala Christoyenna, old buddy!...LOL....

As Always, LOVE and KISSES,

Knuckles. Proud Member of the MOB.

Sorry MARK,but it's YOUR leftist,liberal,greedy, suck the life out of the conservative middleclass goverment that got us into this mess.

I don't need YOUR present liberal government to artificially prop up my 401k,by handing my tax dollars at the corrupt and shameless banks and profit by all means corporate america.

That phoney 3.5% GNP is as real as when the Dow was at it's peak.hows the GNP increasing when unemployment is at 10%.

Your leaders in the white house have all the liberals soooo hoodwinked that you believe anything that comes out of their lying pieholes.

Enjoy your reign of obama while it lasts,cuz the conservative masses are a coming in 2012 to defeat the leftwing loons!!!

GOD bless america and the Body of Christ

Kicking deniers around is too easy? Believing you can borrow your way out of debt is a method true believers can believe in.

I have a new 15,000 credit limit. Is that untaxable income or not? Probably not for long... but if I were an AGW believer I could claim my income is 15,000 more and secure a loan for a new home that I cannot afford, using that logic.

Still waiting to escape to the beachs of Lake Superior in winter so I don't have to drive all the way to Florida and contribute to global warming. HA ha ha! Could nearly walk all the way across the lake last winter, but that is just backyard weather, I know.

"As unemployment rises to near 10%"

I thought right-wingers swore by the GDP as the measure of economic growth. Now they ignore it, since it's politically inconvenient for them. Of course, if the government did absolutely nothing, the unemployment rate would be about 20% right now.

Face it: Keynesian economics, time and time again, has had to come in and rescue this country from collapsing laissez-faire systems. You'd think the libertarians would learn from the past, that allowing Wall Street and corporate executvies to do whatever the heck they want is not sound economic policy.

"Ya know, Mark, you are free to move to Greece. No one is stopping you."

Once again, the Philistine misses the point. So I'll reiterate: Nobody I know that has traveled to Greece comes back saying the country is ugly, or that their houses or ugly. This runs contrary to the notion that white roofs are an eyesore. Obviously, many American tourists over there don't seem to even notice.

Secondly, there is nothing in Brett's post that says white roofs are required. The knee-jerk response from the anti-government trolls is quite telling.

It's really sad to see these dicussions degrade into a political tit-for-tat. Politics won't change the earth's climate, one way or the other. I just have not seen enough evidence that catastrophic warming is going to occur. On the contrary, it seems to be getting slightly cooler. Some scientist does some measurement and comes up with a graph of some data that is supposed to "prove" global warming. Another scientist makes similar measurements and comes up with a graph that shows just the opposite. It all seems like foolishness, and throwing in politics just makes it worse.

Rick Fanning

there is nothing in Brett's post that says white roofs are required.

REPLY: You are correct, but you were the one who brought it up. You were the one who went out of their way to point out the white roofs all over Greece. And if your buddies in the Obama Administration have their way, they will require that of every citizen of this country, via the weasels at the U.N. with regard to this Marxist Copenhagen Treaty. Just why did you bring it up the white roofs in Greece, Mark. I am curious to know.

"Ya know, Mark, you are free to move to Greece. No one is stopping you."

Once again, the Philistine misses the point. So I'll reiterate: Nobody I know that has traveled to Greece comes back saying the country is ugly, or that their houses or ugly. This runs contrary to the notion that white roofs are an eyesore. Obviously, many American tourists over there don't seem to even notice.

REPLY: Actually, Marky baby, I take back what I said. If there were one place that would be perfect to live outside of the United States, I honestly think Greece would be the place. It's probably one of the few EU member states that has not given in to the run a muck politcally correct BS that has overtaken most of those woose bag countries (meaning their governments, not the people or the culture) over there.

Also, Greece is NICE AND HOT!!! Something I would do BACK FLIPS OVER since I have been freezing to death here for the last 4 years without a summer, but something old Mark and our cold wx loving pals would probably whine and moan about. So much for the white roofs repelling glo-bull warming (lol).

Also, the beautiful greek women, the awesome Greek cuisine (serve up the spanokopita and moussouka), and the pristine beaches would add to the interest.

But here's one thing that will probably jerk Mark's (and all our other Progressive friends) chain. Greece is in the top 5 among the MOST RELIGIOUS NATIONS IN EUROPE (just so you know that would be the Orthodox CHRISTIAN religion). GASP!!!! Why, why, how backward!!! Having any scond thoughts, Marky Baby???....LOL!!!!!

heee hee hee ain't I a stinker????.....

Love and Kisses, from the Center of the Universe,

Knuckles. Proud Member of THE MOB!!!!

Face it: Keynesian economics, time and time again, has had to come in and rescue this country from collapsing laissez-faire systems. You'd think the libertarians would learn from the past, that allowing Wall Street and corporate executvies to do whatever the heck they want is not sound economic policy.

Really, when?

Did not work in the 1930's. In fact it did more damage than good.

Isn't working now.

When just when has Keynesian economics worked?

Passive solar has been around for over 30 years and Americans and their home builders refuse to incorporate these easily designed attributes into their homes. Some people are at the forefront of this stubborn mentality that is entirely irrational. All homes should be required to have the advantages of the innate heating ability of the sun. Proper overhangs and design could save thousands per household yet big business doesn't care. Tract homes in California use so much air conditioning in the summer, mainly because of poor design!

the economy grew 3.5% this quarter.

I wonder if Cash for Clunkers had anything to do with it?

if the government did absolutely nothing, the unemployment rate would be about 20% right now.

The government hired new employees, which is skewing the actual unemployment numbers. The government is growing, but who is going to bankroll these new employees, the government or the private sector?

I do agree Mark, the government does need to do something.

1. Reduce it's size.
2. Stop spending money it doesn't have.
3. Stop with so many entitlements.
4. Get out of the way.

By the way, how is cap and trade going to help the economy?

"Really, when?"

Yes, it did work after the Great Depression, and it works now. Some simple facts for you: the GDP decreased more than 6% during 4th quarter '08 and 1st quarter '09. Enter stimulus package, safety nets and other government spending. 2nd quarter GDP only decreased 0.7% (compared to 6 percent the quarter before) and this past quarter it grew 3.5 percent. Translation: Keynesian economics (government spending during a recession) WORKS.

"4. Get out of the way."

Yes, government 'getting out of the way' of the private sector (namely, Wall Street and the financial sector) is what got us in this mess in the first place. Let's do it again! Liberty and freedom!

"By the way, how is cap and trade going to help the economy?"

It's amazing to me how the so-called defenders of free markets have so little faith in them. Markets adapt, no matter what rule changes are. As long as the rules are consistent for everyone, and there is certainty that they will be in place. Markets have historically not had much problem with regulations; rather, they have much more problems with uncertainty surrounding those regulations. In fact, there are many case studies of renewed entrepreneurial activity, and new, invigorated markets, as an unintended consequence of regulations.

If you close that browser of yours that's always locked onto Fox News and Drudge Report, this information could be available to you.

Mark,

I asked you how cap and trade was going to help the economy. After dithering for a couple of days, you came back with...

Markets adapt

Are you kidding me? That's how cap and trade will help our wounded economy? Adaptation?

If my arm gets cut off, I can adapt, but how the hell is that going to help me swim to shore? Why would you want to handicap a struggling economy? Is it to save the flourishing polar bears? Is it to stop a near stagnant sea level rise?

Or is it something else???

Yes Rich - its something else. So I suppose we should have just let the economy bottom out? Thats is what your suggesting right? Do nothing doesn't work well at all. And I do agree with Mark that the economy will adapt. Nobody is cutting off arms. Talk about comparing apples to oranges. But, I do not believe in Cap and Trade. If you want to regulate something, you need to regulate it directly.

"The government hired new employees, which is skewing the actual unemployment numbers. The government is growing, but who is going to bankroll these new employees, the government or the private sector?"

If they are working then they are working. There is nothing skewed about that. Jobs are jobs. A paycheck is a paycheck. If they hadn't done anything then the unemployment rate would be much higher. As long as people continue working thats what matters.

If you want to solve that with tax breaks good luck with that. It didn't work when Bush tried it. That can work but it takes too long in a crisis situation when you need action now. Only when Bush started dumping federal money into the system did it even begin to slow the downward spiral (something democrats would have done!). As much as I don't like the guy he did the right thing there. Then Obama then took it a step further and created his stimulus bill. Now we have a stable economy that is growing again.

Remember, your stuff is crap and my crap is stuff (or is it the other way around). It just depends on the person talking. Republicans have their way, and Democrats have their way. If either didn't work, then they wouldn't exist. Its two different solutions to the same problems. Both work, but in different ways.

Look to the new deal, conservation core, government funded construction projects... These are the things put people back to work then (besides WWII which I don't think we want a repeat of).

I admit that beauracracy has stiffled this a bit. These things happened faster (once implemented at least) in the Great Depression and that dissapoints me. But Cash for Clunkers doesn't explain the turn around. Thats an overly simplistic answer.

You are turning this into a political debate again. Lets try to stay on track buddy. THIS forum is about white/black roof tiles remember? Once Brett posts another article about economy/AGW you can go BAT CRAZY OK?