Earth's temperature 8th-warmest on record so far in 2009

[Cetacea]

Source: USA Today

By Doyle Rice, USA TODAY
The Earth's temperature from January-March 2009 was the 8th-warmest on record, according to data released Thursday from the National Climatic Data Center in Asheville, N.C. The global temperature of 55.04 degrees for the year's first three months was almost a full degree above the 20th-century average of 54.1 degrees.

This continues a decades-long trend of warmer-than-average temperatures. If the warming pattern persists throughout the remainder of the year, it will mark the 33rd consecutive year of above-average global temperatures. The Earth's temperature record dates back to 1880.

Read more: http://www.usatoday.com/weather/climate/2009-04-16-march-temperatures-emissions-reduction-study_N.htm?csp=24&RM_Exclude=Juno

[MADem]

1. We need more white roofs....and pale macadam. It would help the situation a bit, and every bit help

[Cetacea]

2. White roofs would be great.

I just strolled across an asphalt lot and the amount of heat rising up from the black tar is ridiculous.

[MADem]

3. It's one of those "little things" that if enough people do it, it turns into a big thing.

Same way with sustainable buildings, with grass roofs--or even buildings that are built into the ground--so that you can have people working in a nice geothermally sustained environment, and cows grazing on the roof, in essence!

[Delphinus]

4. I have wanted an

earth-bermed home for ages!

I certainly don't have money for it, but have dreamed of it since the early 90s.

[MADem]

7. Me, too. I have always thought they should be the new paradigm, particularly

in areas prone to hurricane and tornado. They could be made to be very attractive--all you need to do is bury a concrete box, basically, and leave portions of each side uncovered and put in some bigass windows. Then, you could put some tubes with mirrors atop the thing to pull light in from above, if you needed more brightness in the interior. Last but not least, metal "persiane" blinds on the exterior of the house--when the tornado/hurricane comes, you lower the blinds, and you are snug and secure.

The focus of the home would be landscaping, mostly, and maybe a dramatic, bigass door. They'd give people so much more "lawn" in a smaller space, too. "Kids, go play on the roof, leave daddy alone!!!" :rofl: They could even go sledding off the roof in winter!

[WriteDown]

8. I've thought about doing this for a long time.....

And its fairly easy to find the stuff.

http://www.acehardware.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2844706&CAWELAID=109395870

The one thing holding me back is how it will look in the neighborhood. Kind of like a white ski slope on a sunny day. It also would probably make my house very difficult to sell.

[MADem]

9. If you note that your roof is "environmental" and it makes your house cooler in summer,

you might attract the right buyer.

Of course, are you considering selling any time soon? That's the real thing. If you're planning on being there twenty more years, hell, go for it. By the time you sell, it just might be the norm!

[WriteDown]

10. I'm in a starter home so....

If I'm in it for 5 more years, I'll be surprised. Aesthetically, they leave a lot to be desired. Especially on a sloping roof. Here are some photos.

[MADem]

11. I LIKE that house!!!!

It's just the ticket for a young family or a pair of empty nesters. Is that a corner lot? Is that an attached garage? That place has some serious potential.

With a little farting around in the curb appeal department, maybe fiddling with the plantings and perhaps toss in a fancy walkway or maybe do a little patio space, you could have yourself quite the wonder, there!

Smaller is beautiful. I live in a major mansion (there are lots of us here right now, and more who come at the odd occasion so we use the old pile of rocks) but one of these days I might be in a position to downsize.

Lotsa room on that roof for solar panels, too....if they ever get to the point where they're affordable, produce more juice, and are an easier install than they are right now!

[Demeter]

5. You Can't Prove It Here

Summer was cold, winter the 12th coldest on record.....and still not over.

[fascisthunter]

6. It's all a Conspiracy.....

:sarcasm: :crazy: