US wants to paint the world white to save energy

[thundley4]

LONDON(AFP) (AFP) – US Energy Secretary Steven Chu said Tuesday the Obama administration wanted to paint roofs an energy-reflecting white, as he took part in a climate change symposium in London.
The Nobel laureate in physics called for a "new revolution" in energy generation to cut greenhouse gas emissions.
But he warned there was no silver bullet for tackling climate change, and said a range of measures should be introduced, including painting flat roofs white.
Making roads and roofs a paler colour could have the equivalent effect of taking every car in the world off the road for 11 years, Chu said.
It was a geo-engineering scheme that was "completely benign" and would keep buildings cooler and reduce energy use from air conditioning, as well as reflecting sunlight back away from the Earth.

Huh, WTF?

I think they are just pulling ideas out of their asses now.  Yes, a white building will absorb less heat in the summer and will require slightly less cooling, but that would be offset by needing more heat in the winter. Dumbasses.

[RightCoast]

Making roads and roofs a paler colour could have the equivalent effect of taking every car in the world off the road for 11 years

How do I get a gig as one of the people that freakin' just makes sh*t up for the gov't??????????????

[thundley4]

How do I get a gig as one of the people that freakin' just makes sh*t up for the gov't??????????????

I think this idea may have originated in Califruitopia. IIRC, a month or two ago there was some idiot out there that wanted only light colored cars to be sold in Cali to limit the AC use in cars.

Side note: MythBusters did the gas mileage test running with AC and without AC, almost no difference.