[Jan Fisher]

What do you think of black houses and roofs?

They certainly look striking, but are they environmentally suitable in Australia’s hot climate?

Probably one of the first rules of science you learnt was black absorbs heat and white repels it, so it seems odd black is becoming so fashionable in our generally baking climate (Melbourne and Tasmania, you’re excused).

But not only ‘odd’ really, they are probably a quite stupid choice if you are trying to keep your bills down. Either you are going to have to invest in some super dooper insulation in all walls and the roof, or cough up every quarter for some eye-watering power bills. Black houses and rooves seem especially egregious in new suburbs where there is little green cover from established trees.

A report by Seed Consulting, which heat-mapped Adelaide’s northern suburbs, found homes with light-coloured roofs were 4.3C cooler on an average day than dark roofed homes.

Combined with builders’ reluctance to include eaves on modern homes because they add to the cost, we seem to be setting ourselves up for some uncomfortable living arrangements.

Do you think black homes and roofs should be banned?

[heathdon]

NO

[Marten]

The usual stupid comment without given it any thought or consideration. Even in Europe most houses are NOT black! My vote is definitely yes; ban black colored homes.

[CountryCatkin]

Wondering what planet you live on when the evidence for banning black roofs is all around in new estates and elsewhere. It’s almost criminal to see how people have little or no choice when they want a home near or in the suburbs.

[zopper]

Should certainly Be discouraged. Looks great in Denmark but doesn’t seem a very wise choice for most of Australia. Especially here in Perth where they usually remove any cooling, shading trees before building these houses.

[CountryCatkin]

Absolutely yes. The sight of the cheek by jowl little boxes, one or two wheelie bins width apart from each other, built on what was formerly perfectly productive farming land is enough to make one shudder. Add to these, dark roofs and no eaves and you have a catalyst for rising power prices and a lack of any real privacy couched in the terms of wonderful opportunities. The greedy developers can only see the dollar signs. Sheer madness as any bargain priced?! development shows in an instant. All the wonderful facilities that they promote are not open 24 hours a day. It happens in all states, but the area around Gawler, South Australia beggars belief for the jammed in little boxes that can be seen popping up like mushrooms. Just a little more thought from the developers could make a pleasant lifestyle for everybody and still help to allay the housing crisis.

[ronloby]

YES. Little black roofs on the sides of hills and what was open space. I live just outside Gawler, and I agree with “CountryCatkin”, the hills round Gawler are blacker that ever now. One can have a coffee with your neighbor without going outside, just hand the cup out the window. All the houses are crammed in side by side, no place for the children to play, grow some veggies or a garden. All the streets are narrow with no room to park an extra vehicle. I could go on and on about this problem but, enough is enough!

[Cosmo]

I believe Australian house designers, builders and buyers of 100 years ago had more sense than today.
We live in a pale grey roofed, sandstone house with a 9ft verandah all around with French doors to every room, a design of yesteryear which is still relevant and works today. However only 20 years ago with today’s knowledge we watched the Canberra bushfire home replacements with larger fence to fence house widths on quite generous blocks, most with little or no eaves, black tiled roofs and everything designed for power guzzling air conditioners. Who allows these totally inappropriately homes to be built and why, when we know what the climate has in store?
We have a multi-faceted housing crisis; too few homes, blocks of brand new apartments that are ready to crumble and tumble and many houses which are built are a social, economic and climatic disaster.

[Author]

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