Re: this comment is really also about how miserable the weather gets in CanadathisisfuriousJuly 28 2009, 16:36:46 UTC
I was thinking the same thing of Toronto: that it's quite hot in the summer and quite cold in the winter. I'm not sure which is the bigger season for energy use, although this Summer Challenge thing may suggest that it's summer? (http://www.torontohydro.com/electricsystem/summerchallenge/index.html) Then again, there are always exhortations from the city in the wintertime to improve insulation, leave the heat set lower, etc. I'd be interested to see what the numbers are, seasonally!
I was specifically thinking about Canadian cities w/r/t white roofs, which reflect sunlight in the manner of the polar icecaps, but are also intended to keep houses and buildings cooler in the summer to reduce the need for A/C. Is this practical in Canada? Would a white roof tend to have a heavier load of snow in the winter, since the dark colour of most roofs helps the snow to melt off in the sun? Would we lose money on heating, or would the difference be negligible?
I feel like the suggestions that are usually made for houses in temperate climates are of a type which are easier to implement in the country or suburbs, eg. situating one's house on the land so as to take advantage of passive solar, or planting trees strategically to provide cool shade in the summer and wind protection in the winter. Some of these things may be possible in cities, but a city lot doesn't often provide as much space. Where are the urban suggestions?
Re: this comment is really also about how miserable the weather gets in CanadasnowmitJuly 30 2009, 16:04:20 UTC
I have been thinking about this since you posted it because I think you are right, a lot of the "green your house" stuff doesn't seem to take into account Canadian weather (this is because there are more Americans I think).
Then, as if by magic, Worldchanging decided to post multiple articles yesterday about this kind of thing:
Some roofing specialists and architects argue that supporters fail to account for climate differences or the complexities of roof construction. In cooler climates, they say, reflective roofs can mean higher heating bills.
Scientists acknowledge that the extra heating costs may outweigh the air-conditioning savings in cities like Detroit or Minneapolis.
But for most types of construction, they say, light roofs yield significant net benefits as far north as New York or Chicago. Although those cities have cold winters, they are heat islands in the summer, with hundreds of thousands of square feet of roof surface absorbing energy.
Re: this comment is really also about how miserable the weather gets in CanadaringthebellsJuly 31 2009, 16:23:05 UTC
The scientist Mr. Chu calls his hero, Art Rosenfeld, a member of the California Energy Commission who has been campaigning for cool roofs since the 1980s, argues that turning all of the world’s roofs “light” over the next 20 years could save the equivalent of 24 billion metric tons in carbon dioxide emissions.
Hm, considering that currently we heat our house by burning natural oil (expensively) from (generally) October through May, while we air condition by turning on one window unit for a few hours on a handful of days in the summer ... I think we'll stick with our dark roof, thanks.
I was specifically thinking about Canadian cities w/r/t white roofs, which reflect sunlight in the manner of the polar icecaps, but are also intended to keep houses and buildings cooler in the summer to reduce the need for A/C. Is this practical in Canada? Would a white roof tend to have a heavier load of snow in the winter, since the dark colour of most roofs helps the snow to melt off in the sun? Would we lose money on heating, or would the difference be negligible?
I feel like the suggestions that are usually made for houses in temperate climates are of a type which are easier to implement in the country or suburbs, eg. situating one's house on the land so as to take advantage of passive solar, or planting trees strategically to provide cool shade in the summer and wind protection in the winter. Some of these things may be possible in cities, but a city lot doesn't often provide as much space. Where are the urban suggestions?
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Then, as if by magic, Worldchanging decided to post multiple articles yesterday about this kind of thing:
Green Roofs: The Urban Jungle's canopy
http://www.worldchanging.com/archives/010211.html
What makes a skyscraper green?
http://www.worldchanging.com/archives/010222.html
And lastly but bestly: Le Grand Paris 2030
http://www.worldchanging.com/archives/010210.html
None of these cover kind of regular homeowner type transformations. More research is required!
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http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/30/science/earth/30degrees.html?_r=1&hpw
Some roofing specialists and architects argue that supporters fail to account for climate differences or the complexities of roof construction. In cooler climates, they say, reflective roofs can mean higher heating bills.
Scientists acknowledge that the extra heating costs may outweigh the air-conditioning savings in cities like Detroit or Minneapolis.
But for most types of construction, they say, light roofs yield significant net benefits as far north as New York or Chicago. Although those cities have cold winters, they are heat islands in the summer, with hundreds of thousands of square feet of roof surface absorbing energy.
Reply
Hm, considering that currently we heat our house by burning natural oil (expensively) from (generally) October through May, while we air condition by turning on one window unit for a few hours on a handful of days in the summer ... I think we'll stick with our dark roof, thanks.
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