This has always been one of those, “why the fuck don’t we do this already?” things.
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This has always been one of those, “why the fuck don’t we do this already?” things. Also, NighthawkInLight has a video on how we could make self cooling buildings with infrared cooling paint. https://youtu.be/N3bJnKmeNJY
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This has always been one of those, “why the fuck don’t we do this already?” things. Also, NighthawkInLight has a video on how we could make self cooling buildings with infrared cooling paint. https://youtu.be/N3bJnKmeNJY
“It isn’t cheap” seems to be the biggest issue. Saw another video that showed it working, but he did say it was pretty expensive for paint.
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“It isn’t cheap” seems to be the biggest issue. Saw another video that showed it working, but he did say it was pretty expensive for paint.
sorry, I meant why aren’t we using white paint. There’s no way white paint is expensive compared to black paint.
The infrared cooling paint has other issues, like it doesn’t withstand damage easily and the surface texture needs to be maintained very well. But like, white paint is the cheapest kind of paint, just due to commonality.
Alternatively, why aren’t we growing plants on all the roofs, that would absorb even more heat without requiring air conditioning, and it would improve air quality, it could be used for farming, etc. Now that one I can understand being more expensive, but you might be able to offset it with sales of whatever you’re growing up there, but that’s really unlikely. So white paint really seems like a no-brainer.
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sorry, I meant why aren’t we using white paint. There’s no way white paint is expensive compared to black paint.
The infrared cooling paint has other issues, like it doesn’t withstand damage easily and the surface texture needs to be maintained very well. But like, white paint is the cheapest kind of paint, just due to commonality.
Alternatively, why aren’t we growing plants on all the roofs, that would absorb even more heat without requiring air conditioning, and it would improve air quality, it could be used for farming, etc. Now that one I can understand being more expensive, but you might be able to offset it with sales of whatever you’re growing up there, but that’s really unlikely. So white paint really seems like a no-brainer.
Editing to add this link from another comment because I had no idea that (of course) there’s organized opposition by entrenched interests to prevent anything for the public good https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2025/06/dark-roof-lobby-white-reflective-roofs-laws-lobbying-urban-heat-islands/
I don’t think the current roofs are painted black - they’re naturally black because roofing tar and asphalt shingles are black by default (a lot of sheet metal roofing is too but you can at least get that in most colors). So it’s not a matter of swapping out paint but adding something new. It also adds a new maintenance cost - keeping the white roof clean/maintained. Paint flakes off, tarps etc wear and become tattered, dirt and pollen collect on the surface. None of this is a dealbreaker by any means but our society seems to run on defaults and there’s a lot of inertia in construction and a lot of pressure on builders to keep materials costs down (even if doing so costs the owners or occupants more in the long run).
I hope this continues to take off because it really is a big improvement.
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This has always been one of those, “why the fuck don’t we do this already?” things. Also, NighthawkInLight has a video on how we could make self cooling buildings with infrared cooling paint. https://youtu.be/N3bJnKmeNJY
This has always been one of those, “why the fuck don’t we do this already?” things.
Because the black roof lobby has spent a ton of money to keep roofs black.
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sorry, I meant why aren’t we using white paint. There’s no way white paint is expensive compared to black paint.
The infrared cooling paint has other issues, like it doesn’t withstand damage easily and the surface texture needs to be maintained very well. But like, white paint is the cheapest kind of paint, just due to commonality.
Alternatively, why aren’t we growing plants on all the roofs, that would absorb even more heat without requiring air conditioning, and it would improve air quality, it could be used for farming, etc. Now that one I can understand being more expensive, but you might be able to offset it with sales of whatever you’re growing up there, but that’s really unlikely. So white paint really seems like a no-brainer.
No black paint wouldn’t cost more than white; But epdm rubber and asphalt are commonly used on flat roofs and they are black.
