Questions Flashcards
Where did you get the idea for this project?
I got this idea while I was in North Carolina last summer because an unprecedented heat wave occurred. Also, I saw an article about Los Angeles painting their streets white. This gave me the idea of other ways heat islands could be reduced, like painting roofs white.
What research did you do?
I looked at various studies from universities as well as the government. I also looked at many scientific articles on the internet. Some examples of what I researched would be what heat islands are, how they can be reduced, different material’s reflectivity, and different colors’ reflectivity.
What did you learn from your project results?
I learned that you would need a very accurate tool to be certain which is the absolute best coating to reduce effects of heat islands. Also, I learned that coatings meant to be reflective are much more reflective than typical exterior paint.
What was your control?
My control was the bare asphalt shingle, since nothing was added or changed about it.
What were your independent and dependent variables?
My independent variables are each of the shingles, because they did not rely on anything else. My dependent variable is the albedo, because it changes and relies on the different shingles.
How (and how often) did you replicate the experiment?
I replicated this experiment ten times because there are ten trials. I recorded one reading for each shingle, per trial. Each time I simply put a shingle in, recorded the measurement, and then replaced it with a different shingle, repeating the process.
What was the hardest part? And who helped you?
One of the hardest parts was definitely finding the right tool to measure reflectivity, without it being extremely expensive. I was able to find a slightly less accurate instrument that functioned similarly, though. Throughout the project, I received help from my dad whenever I was trying to cut things. He also had to help order and pick things up, and open and close the paint cans.
Why are your findings important?
My findings are important because this could be an easily implemented solution to help resolve heat islands and the effects of climate change. Additionally, this benefits the individual by saving them a significant amount on their electrical bill. Since the materials do not absorb it as much, less heat is absorbed into your home.
If you had to do it all over again, what would you do differently?
If I had to redo this experiment, I would probably compare even more roof coatings, such as ceramic based coatings, cement based coatings, and temperature-adaptive roofs. Also, I would continue to search for an affordable reflectometer with a much smaller margin of error to see whether the acrylic elastomeric coating or the silicone one is truly higher
