GO GREEN!!! errr... Well go White!

[Gardner Denver]

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.


http://green.yahoo.com/news/afp/20090526/sc_afp/climatewarmingusbritainchu.html

So, you read this, and at first brush it makes sense.  But then give it a 2nd or 3rd brush.... 

You paint your roof white to reduce heat absorbtion.   Ok, I see this.
Cooling cost go down.  Ok, I see this.

What happens when winter rolls around?   Ooops... didn't think that far ahead did we?  That's right boys and girls.  Your "green" house is going to cost more to heat this winter.  Why?  Well your house does not absorb heat as well  as it did with your nice black shingle roof.  So your energy savings from the summer can go to pay your higher heating cost in the winter.

While we may save some coal from being burned in the summer, we'll be burning more coal, or oil, or wood, or whatever you use to heat your home in the winter.

Granted in places like SoCal or SoFl where it very rarely gets cold this might indeed be a good money/energy saver.  But what about the rest of the country?  Chicago gets plenty hot in the summer, but it also gets damn cold in the winter.  Most of your northern states have longer cool/cold seasons than warm/hot seasons.