NYC has taken a very cool step in reducing the city's power needs. It's so simple it's odd it's only finally taking place in 2010. The city is painting it roofs white. By painting the roofs of buildings white, they are "making them reflect sunlight, cutting down on temperatures in crowded urban areas, and reducing the need for air-conditioning." (Fast Company)
If they eventually get all of the roofs in NYC whitewashed, it would lower the temperature in the city by 2 degrees. While this may not seem like a lot, it would have a DRAMATIC effect on power needs. For example, "in a one-story building, a reflective white coating could cut down on air conditioning by up to 50 percent." That has HUGE potential for the overall power demands of the city.
For building owners, this lowers costs significantly and greatly improves the lifespan of their HVAC equipment.
Great stuff. Thanks to Fast Company.
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