The difference between a house that is unbearably hot and one that is substantially cool lies in the color of the roof. A flat roof in the midday sun receives about 1,000 watts of sunlight per square meter. A dark will absorb most of this energy, heating up the underlying building as well as the surrounding air that air conditioners suck in. A white roof, on the other hand, reflects around 85 percent of the sunlight that hits and heats to just a few degrees warmer than the outside air temperature. With such a massive difference in heat, it’s no wonder the Greeks have been painting their roofs white for centuries.
Save money: Beat the summer heat by painting your roof white
More of Today's Solutions
Understanding The Neurodivergent Perspective
What’s it like to live in a body and brain that functions differently than the majority of your peers? We are not talking about ...
Read MoreGiant tortoise believed extinct for 100 years is actually alive
We previously shared a story about a family finding their pet tortoise alive and well in their attic after it had been missing for ...
Read MoreAI could identify chickens in distress and improve conditions
We’ve already written before about AI’s potential to improve pigs’ lives by listening to them. Now, scientists have found they can use AI on ...
Read MoreThe future of healing: 3D printing skin directly onto open wounds
Pennsylvania State University researchers achieved a major medical science breakthrough by being the first team ever to 3D print real human skin tissue directly ...
Read More
