Will painting white every roof to reflect back sunlight into space reduce global warming?

Answer 1

It will reduce air conditioning bills and may reduce heat in cities with lots of concentrated roofs, but too little of the earth's surface is covered by buildings for it to make a difference in global warming. Much more is covered by ice, which is rapidly melting. Some have suggested painting newly exposed rocks in Greenland white for the same reason.

Answer 2

Theoretically, yes.

Even though there is obviously more ice, we would not have to replace all the ice. And since that ice is the greater latitudes, then the angle of incidence and resultant heat energy is lower (which is why the poles are colder than the rest of the Earth to begin with.The effect of having every roof painted white would be amplified by those house in the lesser latitudes, where most people live to begin with, anyway.

But this project would be a big drain on energy and material resources that would probably end in a net negative effect on the environment.

Answer 3

I think your question is interesting and you got a good point there.

However, where I live in Sweden we have cold winters and I think we should do better if we did the opposite: Took care of the heat from the dark surfaces. That way we wouldn't have to use as much other energy to keep our houses warm.

Theoretically, maybe painting our roads or other areas (like mountains) white will be a desperate measure in the future?

Answer 4

It will help and reduce your electric bill. Yes I did live in Barstow Cal. where it gets very hot. I painted the roof and walls all white and trimmed in aqua. It made it much cooler and reduced my electric bill.

Answer 5

yes and no. Global warming is caused by gasses released in to the air so that doesn't help

But it will make it colder so endangered species endangered by heat come back.

Answer 6

I think people are doing that becaues their roofs are hooked up to cisterns.