I think when it comes to our roof, the city should lighten or more specifically whiten up.
The very idea that a single white statue can cool the temperature of a playground on a hot day is worth noting. The city spends money on spray parks, so why not incorporate the colour white?
During heat waves, the most vulnerable people are those living on the top floor of apartment buildings with black roofs.
New developments in Red Deer show a lot of black roofs and air conditioners. Counterproductive, is it not? Black absorbs heat, requiring AC units to operate, which dissipates the heat beside the home.
I presented the information to the Red Deer Environment Advisory Committee and a motion was passed recommending that council look at this issue.
As a private citizen I would suggest to city council that they look making a resolution similar to the following:
Whereas climate change is becoming of increasing concern to Red Deer citizens and individuals worldwide; and whereas the burning of fossil fuels for electricity and cooling significantly affects the air quality and contributes to climate change; and whereas the strategic direction of Red Deer urges our community to look for ways to conserve environmental resources; and whereas the Environmental Master Plan suggests that we reduce our dependency on fossil fuels as soon as possible; and whereas a white roof reduces energy costs for cooling by 20 per cent during the warmest seasons, and costs $2 per square foot less than black roofs over a 50 year span; therefore be it resolved that council of the City of Red Deer directs administration to consider the implementation of white structures and roofs whenever possible.
Garfield Marks
Red Deer