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Paint Roofs and Roads White to Stop Global Warming

outfctrloutfctrl Member UncommonPosts: 3,619

Here we go again.  Another lame solution for something that isn't happening.

LINK

Kauffman cited Obama Energy Secretary Steven Chu: "[he] says if all rooftops and roads in the world were made white it could combat global warming." A clip was played of Chu claiming: "That would be the equivalent as if you took off all the automobiles of the world for eleven years." Kauffman added: "Think of it this way, every year you would keep out of the atmosphere 2.4 billion tons of carbon dioxide or the emissions produced by 60 million cars.

There’d be even more savings if roads and parking lots were not covered in black asphalt." Nye declared that asphalt was: "...absorbing more heat...squandering billions of tons of carbon dioxide every year."

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Comments

  • sephersepher Member Posts: 3,561

    Man-made global warming you want to say.

    Argue the impact man has and could have all you want; ideally with scientific points, but it'd be silly to suggest global warming from the effects of greenhouse gases and the heat that trap didn't exist at all.

    But that's never stopped these threads before.

  • outfctrloutfctrl Member UncommonPosts: 3,619

    I know these threads get old, because you can never prove one way or another.  This is just another example of " pissing in the wind".

    The world is not going to come to the end. Our climate cycles over the years.  This whole Global warming thing is just a scare.

    If you wanted to paint everything white, what about the other consequences?

    It’s worth noting the environmental impact of producing paint. Most paints are toxic and harmful to the environment.  On top of this, there is the carbon impact of producing the paint and transporting it. Then what about the carbon footprint of producing and transporting the food that sustains the labor required to paint the roofs, and their subsequent touch ups?

     

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  • sephersepher Member Posts: 3,561
    Originally posted by outfctrl


    Our climate cycles over the years.  This whole Global warming thing is just a scare.



     

    And that's why these threads don't work, you obviously don't believe global warming is an aspect of our our climate "cycles".

    Choose what you're arguing, whether or not global warming exists, or whether or not humanity contributes significantly to it. You can't do both; the latter acknowledges global warming exists but that our own contributions are nill. You can't argue both, and arguing the former is again, silly.

  • outfctrloutfctrl Member UncommonPosts: 3,619

    All I was doing was being a "Devils advocate" for you believers, that's all.  If you believe that surfaces painted a light color will reduce "so called" warming, you have to look at the ramifications of the "so called" solution.

    IF this was ever made mandatory, what about run-offs from heavy rains?  People buying cheap paint to get by.  Now we would have another crisis.   Chemicals in our water supplies and freshwater lakes.

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  • GodliestGodliest Member Posts: 3,486

    Good joke. While I believe in man made Global Warming that guy Steven Chu must be a complete retard for even saying such a stupid thing. If some people found it easy to joke to about man made Global Warming this isn't exactly helping.

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  • sephersepher Member Posts: 3,561
    Originally posted by outfctrl


    All I was doing was being a "Devils advocate" for you believers, that's all.  If you believe that surfaces painted a light color will reduce "so called" warming, you have to look at the ramifications of the "so called" solution.
    IF this was ever made mandatory, what about run-offs from heavy rains?  People buying cheap paint to get by.  Now we would have another crisis.   Chemicals in our water supplies and freshwater lakes.



     

    Again, figure out what you're arguing first. If you're arguing the possible negative effects of the proposed idea, then you'd have to first acknowledge the positive impacts that those negatives would be consequential of.

    In the mean time, it doesn't make much sense for you to poise the effects of increased emissions vs. the reduction of heat those emissions trap when you fundementally disbelieve the science behind it and consider it a myth.

  • Squirt5Squirt5 Member Posts: 201

    He wasn't actually implying that was something we should do (only the TV host did by posing a question to get you 'hooked'), he was just trying to show that little things like the color of your roof, or the color of roads can have an impact that you probably have never considered. I guess that was lost in translation.

    But more importantly, regardless of whether or not you accept climate change, do you not think it is smart to be working towards more environmentally friendly means of existence? You have to be delusional to think what we're doing now is in any way shape or form sustainable. I think that is at least one of the positive tones in this whole debate is that we do need to be more responsible for our actions not only to ourselves but to our environment as well.

    Men fear thought as they fear nothing else on earth -- more than ruin -- more even than death.... Thought is subversive and revolutionary, destructive and terrible, thought is merciless to privilege, established institutions, and comfortable habit. Thought looks into the pit of hell and is not afraid. Thought is great and swift and free, the light of the world, and the chief glory of man. -- Bertrand Russell

  • eight675309eight675309 Member Posts: 246

    The idea of painting roads white is mind bogglingly stupid I can only guess the idiot who came up with it had never had a science clab in his entire life. The roof thing isn't all that bad of an idea, but only if you live relatively close to the equator and can count on having a hot summer that will last more than 6 months. Where I live, for instance, that idea would do the exact opposite of "helping" the environement, because the majority of the year it is relatively cold.

     

    It just sounds like the guy is some idiot who never left his air conditioned office in California/Florida or something along those lines.

  • EnkinduEnkindu Member Posts: 1,098

    Albedo.

    Maybe those of you that skipped your science classes should refrain from engaging in debate about these issues.

    You might look into a couple geology/ hydrology/ atmospheric science classes at your local university.

    Edit- typo

    deviliscious: (PS. I have been told that when I use scientific language, it does not make me sound more intelligent, it only makes me sound like a jackass. It makes me appear that I am not knowledgable enough in the subject I am discussing to be able to translate it for people outside the field to understand. Some advice you might consider as well)

  • kazmokazmo Member Posts: 715
    Originally posted by Enkindu


    Albedo.
    Maybe those of you that skipped your science classes should refrain from engaging in debate about these issues.
    You might look into a couple geology/ hydrology/ atmospheric science classes at your local university.
    Edit- typo

     

    People are well aware of the varying reflections of light/heat on different colors and textures. Even the uneducated know this - It's called not wearing a black shirt on a hot and sunny day.



    The OP made a good point in saying that, it's probably not a good idea to cover half the world in fucking paint. A rather obvious assumption, to not coat things in chemicals (paint) that are historically one of the most detrimental substances to the environment (and people too) ...for the purpose of ..helping the environment?



    I live in Maine. We have short summers and long winters, with much precipitation all-round. Coating our entire roof in white paint would not only kill our lawn from run-off and kill our vegetable garden, it would also be stupidly expensive to maintain. We don't do shit to affect the environment. Sorry, not riding the special interest guilt-train like everybody else. We do our part by not destroying the environment by not running massive production and manufacturing facilities used for such things as.. oh I don't know.. Making Insane Amounts of White Paint.



     

  • Shiva_ShadowShiva_Shadow Member Posts: 216
    Originally posted by Enkindu


    Albedo.
    Maybe those of you that skipped your science classes should refrain from engaging in debate about these issues.
    You might look into a couple geology/ hydrology/ atmospheric science classes at your local university.
    Edit- typo

     

    Please, really if you are going to post something calling someone stupid maybe you should check to make sure you aren't a moron first.  The simple fact is WHITE REFLECTS SUNLIGHT, period and without a point.  It would take as little as five seconds to google the reflectivity or albedo of white paint is as much as 65%,or more depending on type, of the sunlight that shines on it.  If you got your head out of your butt long enough to check your facts you might actually have something interesting to say.

    And yes it would poison the enviroment, but taken as a whole, one intelligent enough to actually understand the English language rather than simply spewing it out, might take that statement as something like: Global warming is a big problem with no simple solutions.'

  • EnkinduEnkindu Member Posts: 1,098
    Originally posted by Shiva_Shadow

    Originally posted by Enkindu


    Albedo.
    Maybe those of you that skipped your science classes should refrain from engaging in debate about these issues.
    You might look into a couple geology/ hydrology/ atmospheric science classes at your local university.
    Edit- typo

     

    Please, really if you are going to post something calling someone stupid maybe you should check to make sure you aren't a moron first.  The simple fact is WHITE REFLECTS SUNLIGHT, period and without a point.  It would take as little as five seconds to google the reflectivity or albedo of white paint is as much as 65%,or more depending on type, of the sunlight that shines on it.  If you got your head out of your butt long enough to check your facts you might actually have something interesting to say.

    And yes it would poison the enviroment, but taken as a whole, one intelligent enough to actually understand the English language rather than simply spewing it out, might take that statement as something like: Global warming is a big problem with no simple solutions.'

    Way to attack someone who agrees with you 100%.

     

    I was simply posting that link to help educate the people that seem to think changes in Albedo are inconsequential. The OP and others seem to think this is laughable. On a planetary scale albedo is one of the most important climate determinants, and the effects of "urban heat islands" can be seen pretty clearly in mesoscale climate models iirc.

    Sorry I didn't post a whole lot, I didn't want to get into another climate change debate like this thread.

    I'm still waiting til I can go back to my alma mater (where I got my MS in environmental science) to do a proper literature search to respond to that thread.  Been too busy though.

    deviliscious: (PS. I have been told that when I use scientific language, it does not make me sound more intelligent, it only makes me sound like a jackass. It makes me appear that I am not knowledgable enough in the subject I am discussing to be able to translate it for people outside the field to understand. Some advice you might consider as well)

  • Shiva_ShadowShiva_Shadow Member Posts: 216

    Wasn't attacking you Enkindu, I was agreeing with you, sorry if it sounded like that.

     

  • EnkinduEnkindu Member Posts: 1,098

     

    Originally posted by Shiva_Shadow


    Wasn't attacking you Enkindu, I was agreeing with you, sorry if it sounded like that.
     



     

    No prob : )

    was afraid I was gonna have to go into "River Tam" mode to defend myself from 360 degree attack : )

    deviliscious: (PS. I have been told that when I use scientific language, it does not make me sound more intelligent, it only makes me sound like a jackass. It makes me appear that I am not knowledgable enough in the subject I am discussing to be able to translate it for people outside the field to understand. Some advice you might consider as well)

  • Shiva_ShadowShiva_Shadow Member Posts: 216

    LMAO!!

    I really liked Serenity and Firefly, to bad the series didn't get much play and the movie wasn't  as acclaimed as it should have been.

  • kobie173kobie173 Member UncommonPosts: 2,075



     

    Meh, this is just like when people went apoplectic when Obama suggested that properly inflating your tires could help with gas mileage. The science backs it up, but the morons don't want to hear it, because that's not what the little man in the radio said.

    So I started to walk into the water. I won't lie to you boys...I was terrified. But I pressed on, and as I made my way past the breakers, a strange calm came over me. I don't know if it was divine intervention or the kinship of all living things, but I tell you, Jerry, at that moment ... I was a marine biologist.

  • Shiva_ShadowShiva_Shadow Member Posts: 216

    <giggles>

    Couldn't have said it better myself ^^.

  • EnkinduEnkindu Member Posts: 1,098
    Originally posted by kobie173




     
    Meh, this is just like when people went apoplectic when Obama suggested that properly inflating your tires could help with gas mileage. The science backs it up, but the morons don't want to hear it, because that's not what the little man in the radio said.



     

    Kobie that is EXACTLY what I thought of when I first read the op : )

    deviliscious: (PS. I have been told that when I use scientific language, it does not make me sound more intelligent, it only makes me sound like a jackass. It makes me appear that I am not knowledgable enough in the subject I am discussing to be able to translate it for people outside the field to understand. Some advice you might consider as well)

  • kazmokazmo Member Posts: 715

    Well, you folks seem so excited about the white paint proposal.. I have a suggestion.



    Why don't you all buy a house. Buy that house, then paint the entire thing white. Just coat the entire thing in white paint.. gallons and gallons. Paint your driveway white, then if you have a few hundred gallons left, paint your entire lawn white.



    When you're done, let me and the rest of us know how it works for ya. That is, when you're done making jokes and trying to brag about your education credibility. I'll consider the proposal then get back to you.

  • Shiva_ShadowShiva_Shadow Member Posts: 216

    Well Aeroplane you seemed to have the inability to read anything and actually understand it, you might want to look into that.  Quite frankly, you seem so ready to attack people that clearly you've never had an original thought of your own, your doctor would probably even name the disorder after you.  So, that being the case I will restate, and try not to use any big words so I can be certain you understand me this time.

    The World(that's the big blue and green thing where we live) Enviroment( that's the air and water you breath(that's what happens when your chest moves) and everything else that makes breathing(look back for answer to big word) possible) is a big problem(those things that make your head hurt)  and there are no simple answer, saying you can paint the world white is simply another way of saying there are no easy solutions(those things that stop making your head hurting).

    Hopefully this will clear it up for you, otherwise you might want to get someone smarter to help explain it to you.

    (GO RIGHT AHEAD AND BAN ME FOR TROLLING BECAUSE THAT WAS WORTH IT)

  • kazmokazmo Member Posts: 715

    Oh, okay.. Thanks for displaying your superiority so well.

  • Shiva_ShadowShiva_Shadow Member Posts: 216

    Oh you are quite welcome have a nice day :)

  • kobie173kobie173 Member UncommonPosts: 2,075
    Originally posted by aeroplane22


    Well, you folks seem so excited about the white paint proposal.. I have a suggestion.



    Why don't you all buy a house. Buy that house, then paint the entire thing white. Just coat the entire thing in white paint.. gallons and gallons. Paint your driveway white, then if you have a few hundred gallons left, paint your entire lawn white.



    When you're done, let me and the rest of us know how it works for ya. That is, when you're done making jokes and trying to brag about your education credibility. I'll consider the proposal then get back to you.



     

    Are you even remotely capable of arguing without chucking out strawman after strawman?

    So I started to walk into the water. I won't lie to you boys...I was terrified. But I pressed on, and as I made my way past the breakers, a strange calm came over me. I don't know if it was divine intervention or the kinship of all living things, but I tell you, Jerry, at that moment ... I was a marine biologist.

  • Scubie67Scubie67 Member UncommonPosts: 462

    Im not sure that painting roads would be safe,due to glare form sunlight.Anyone who has driven on wet or snow covered roads probably noticed this.Shade trees overhanging your house will make it cooler although you risk a limb or the tree itself falling on your house in storm conditions

  • EnkinduEnkindu Member Posts: 1,098

    Hmm.  That seems a little nonsensical doesn't it? Should I paint my dog white too?

    How about this instead:

    Lets look at some large surface area/ low albedo urban areas and examine what the effect would be on the regional heat budget to change to high albedo alternative surface coatings?

    It certainly won't single-handedly fix anthropogenic warming but it might help to slow it down.

    Too sensible/ logical for you?

    Perhaps you could offer an alternative conservative plan like....

    We could all buy Hummer H3s and use as much petroleum as possible to stimulate economic growth and PROVE that we aren't going to let some quack scientists screw up our American way of life!

    Hell yeah!

    deviliscious: (PS. I have been told that when I use scientific language, it does not make me sound more intelligent, it only makes me sound like a jackass. It makes me appear that I am not knowledgable enough in the subject I am discussing to be able to translate it for people outside the field to understand. Some advice you might consider as well)

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