Abstract
Exploiting surface albedo change has been proposed as a form of geoengineering to reduce the heating effect of anthropogenic increases in greenhouse gases (GHGs). Recent modeling experiments have projected significant negative radiative forcing from large-scale implementation of albedo reduction technologies (“cool” roofs and pavements). This paper complements such model studies with measurement-based calculations of the direct radiation balance impacts of replacement of conventional roofing with “cool” roof materials in California. This analysis uses, as a case study, the required changes to commercial buildings embodied in California’s building energy efficiency regulations, representing a total of 4300 ha of roof area distributed over 16 climate zones. The estimated statewide mean radiative forcing per 0.01 increase in albedo (here labeled RF01) is −1.38 W/m2. The resulting unit-roof-area mean annual radiative forcing impact of this regulation is −44.2 W/m2. This forcing is computed to counteract the positive radiative forcing of ambient atmospheric CO2 at a rate of about 41 kg for each square meter of roof. Aggregated over the 4300 ha of cool roof estimated built in the first decade after adoption of the State regulation, this is comparable to removing about 1.76 million metric tons (MMT) of CO2 from the atmosphere. The point radiation data used in this study also provide perspective on the spatial variability of cool roof radiative forcing in California, with individual climate zone effectiveness ranging from −37 to −59 W/m2 of roof. These “bottom-up” calculations validate the estimates reported for published “top down” modeling, highlight the large spatial diversity of the effects of albedo change within even a limited geographical area, and offer a potential methodology for regulatory agencies to account for the climate effects of “cool” roofing in addition to its well-known energy efficiency benefits.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
Explore related subjects
Discover the latest articles and news from researchers in related subjects, suggested using machine learning.References
Akbari H, Konopacki S (2005) Calculating energy-saving potentials of heat-island reduction strategies. Energy Policy 33:721–756
Akbari H, Menon S, Rosenfeld A (2009) Global cooling: increasing world-wide urban albedos to offset CO2. Climatic Change 95
Akbari H, Pomerantz M, Taha H (2001) Cool surfaces and shade trees to reduce energy use and improve air quality in urban areas. Solar Energy 70(3):295–310
Bonan GB (1997) Effects of land use on the climate of the United States. Climatic Change 37:449–486
Budyko MI (1969) The effect of solar radiation variations on the climate of the Earth, Tellus XXI(5)
Campra P, Garcia M, Canton Y, Palacios-Orueta A (2008) Surface temperature cooling trends and negative radiative forcing due to land use change toward greenhouse farming in south-eastern Spain. J Geophys Res 113:D18109. doi:10.1029/2008JD009912
Chapin FS, Sturm M, Serreze MC, McFadden JP, Key JR, Lloyd AH, McGuire AD, Rupp TS, Lynch AH, Schimel JP, Beringer J, Chapman WL, Epstein HE, Euskirchen ES, Hinzman LD, Jia G, Ping C-L, Tape KD, Thompson CDC, Walker DA, Welker JM (2005) Role of land-surface changes in arctic summer warming. Science 310:657–660
CIMIS (California Irrigation Management Information System) (2010) California Department of Water Resources, http://www.nd.water.ca.gov/PPAs/WaterConservation/CIMIS/
Gildor H, Tziperman E (2000) Sea ice as the glacial cycles’ climate switch: role of seasonal and orbital forcing. Paleoceanography 15:605–615
GISS (Goddard Institute for Space Studies) (2011) Atmosphere – Ocean Model, http://aom.giss.nasa.gov/solar.html
Google Maps (2010) (http://maps.google.com/maps), Google, Inc., Mountain View, California
Govindsamy B, Duffy P, Caldeira K (2001) Land use changes and Northern hemisphere cooling. Geophys Res Lett 28(2):291–294
Hamwey RM (2007) Active amplification of the terrestrial albedo to mitigate climate change: an exploratory study. Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change 12:419–439
Hansen J, Ruedy R, Lacis A, Russell G, Sato M, Lerner J, Rind D, Stone P (1997a) Wonderland climate model. J Geophys Res 102(D6):6823–6830
Hansen J, Sato M, Ruedy R (1997b) Radiative forcing and climate response. J Geophys Res 102(D6):6831–6864
Hansen J, Sato M, Ruedy R, Nazarenko L, Lacis A, Schmidt GA, Russell G, Aleinov I, Bauer M, Bauer S, Bell N, Cairns B, Canuto V, Chandler M, Cheng Y, Del Genio A, Faluvegi G, Fleming E, Friend A, Hall T, Jackman C, Kelley M, Kiang N, Koch D, Lean J, Lerner J, Lo K, Menon S, Miller R, Minnis P, Novakov T, Oinas V, Ja Perlwitz, Ju Perlwitz, Rind D, Romanou A, Shindell D, Stone P, Sun S, Tausnev N, Thresher D, Wielicki B, Wong T, Yao M, Zhang S (2005) Efficacy of climate forcings. J Geophys Res 110:D18104
IPCC (2007) In: Solomon S, Qin D, Manning M, Chen Z, Marquis M, Averyt KB, Tignor M, Miller HL (eds) Contribution of Working Group I to the Fourth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, 2007. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge
Lenton TM, Vaughan NE (2009) The radiative forcing potential of different climate geoengineering options. Atmos Chem Phys 9:5539–5561
Levinson R, Akbari H, Konopacki S, Bretz S (2005) Inclusion of cool roofs in nonresidential title 24 prescriptive requirements. Energy Policy 33:151–170
Menon S, Akbari1 H, Mahanama S, Sednev I, Levinson R (2010) Radiative forcing and temperature response to changes in urban albedos and associated CO2 offsets, Env Res Lett 5
NOAA (U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) (2011) Current CO2 monitoring data for Mauna Loa, Hawaii, ftp://ftp.cmdl.noaa.gov/ccg/co2/trends/co2_mm_mlo.txt
Rosenzweig C, Solecki W, Slosberg R (2006) Mitigating New York City’s Heat Island with Urban Forestry, Living Roofs, and Light Surfaces, NYSERDA 06–06
Sagan C, Toon O, Pollack J (1979) Anthropogenic albedo changes and the earth’s climate. Science 206(4425):1363–1368
Shindell D, Faluvegi G, Koch D, Schmidt G, Unger N, Bauer S (2009) Improved attribution of climate forcing to emissions. Science 326:716–718
Taha H, Chang SC, Akbari H (2000) Meteorological and Air Quality Impacts of Heat Island Mitigation Measures In Three U.S. Cities, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory Report LBNL-44222, Berkeley, CA
Acknowledgment
I would like to thank the California Air Resources Board for supporting this research, and the efforts of one reviewer whose close reading and timely suggestions greatly improved this paper.
Disclaimer
The contents of this report and opinions expressed herein are the work of the author alone, and do not represent official statements or policies of the California Air Resources Board or of the State of California. Any mention of commercial products does not imply an endorsement by California Air Resources Board or of the State of California.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
VanCuren, R. The radiative forcing benefits of “cool roof” construction in California: quantifying the climate impacts of building albedo modification. Climatic Change 112, 1071–1083 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10584-011-0250-2
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10584-011-0250-2