Energy-saving movement

Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2009 | 2:08 a.m.

If you’re outside enjoying the sunshine on a hot summer day in the Las Vegas Valley but don’t want to get too hot, it’s always wiser to wear a white hat than a dark-colored one. The conventional wisdom is that the dark hat will be more likely to absorb the heat.

Why, then, don’t we have more white rooftops in the valley?

As The New York Times reported last week, shiny plasticized white coverings for homes and businesses like the one used by the Waldrep family of Sacramento, Calif., are spreading in popularity as part of a movement toward energy-saving “cool roofs.” These roofs consist of coatings and other materials that do a better job than traditional roofs of reflecting sunlight away from buildings.

It used to be that when the Waldreps came home from work in the summer, their house would be unbearable inside. After applying their new roof, the indoor temperature dropped to 80 degrees even when it was hotter than 100 degrees outside.

While cool roofs can cost more than traditional ones, the added expense can be recouped in the long run through lower air-conditioning bills. As the Times reported, the energy savings can also help combat global warming by reducing carbon dioxide emissions.

Nevada certainly has enough sunshine to become a major participant in the cool roof movement.

We would encourage businesses that are planning to replace their roofs or build new structures to consider the energy savings they would enjoy by using solar-reflective roofing material. One incentive they have is a rebate program, Sure Bet, offered by utility company NV Energy that encourages energy-efficient commercial projects.

So far, only three applicants have applied for and received rebates, according to the utility. In time, that number will certainly grow in Southern Nevada.

While there is no cool roof rebate program for homes in Nevada, residences that are at least 30 percent more energy efficient than state building code requirements dictate are eligible for rebates from NV Energy through another program, Energy Plus. Because builders can achieve energy savings with help from cool roofs, they should be encouraged to include them in construction whenever possible.