Ryan Biggs' Feb 12 article concerning the heat island effect was interesting and timely. A recent study on the efectiveness
of rooftop gardens versus painting the roof white (to increase the reflectance to sunlight) showed the painted roofs to save more energy (in southern climates) and also cost less to install and maintain. Since it has been gradually getting warmer since the 1850s and urbanization is here to stay, options such as these are one way to mitigate some of the warming effects of our high density living patterns. And save money on cooling bills too!
William Zipperer
Mesa
sockratties posted at 8:44 am on Sat, Feb 18, 2012.
While you're at it, at least in new construction, roofs could be made to capture rain run-off. In our severe climate the few inches of rain each year simply does not have time to return to the water table before washing into drains and gullies. The water table is dropping at an alarming rate. In some areas such as Casa Grande it has dropped as much as 35 feet causing the demise of flora and fauna native to the habitat.
A cistern could hold the rain water and deploy it over time to plants, yards and other outside use where it would eventually return to the water table. This use could also be made of “gray water” such as from clothes washers and baths, reducing the load on processing facilities. Plants love the chemicals provided in gray water and detergents which are dispersed before reaching aquifers.