Greener Living
The Best Roofs to Keep London Cool in Summer May Not Be Green
New research shows that white roofs are most effective at cooling the city down on the hottest summer days.
Residential properties in view of the Canary Wharf in London, UK.
Photographer: Hollie Adams/BloombergIncreasingly hot summer days in London have city dwellers seeking relief. And a new study shows the best bet might not be green roofs but white ones.
Conventional wisdom has long held that roofs adorned with vegetation are a key way to reduce outdoor temperatures by absorbing sunlight and evaporating water into the surrounding air. However, such roofs had negligible cooling effects when tested in a simulation of London’s two hottest days in summer 2018, according to findings from University College London researchers released Thursday.