California: Just don't paint it black (or any other dark color in fact)

[blue tiger]

every time i think i have heard the most stupid thing ever.............

when is california supposed to slide into the sea again?

I hate to tell you but the plate that the west coast of cali sits on is actually moving inland.The biggest earthquake in history on the San Andraes would only serve to move it inland. That's right folks Cali is getting closer and will never fall into the sea.

Sorry

[NAKID]

Yup (which I posted earlier).   I went ahead and skimmed the latest draft changes to the regs (cuz ya just can't rely on the interwebz and some random article).  The proposal applies to automobiles, light-duty trucks and medium duty vehicles weighing under 10K lbs.   Here: 

And what corresponding effect does that have on a/c fuel consumption?  1.3%  Make of that what you will in terms of a cost/benefit analysis.  But just throwing out 1 degree F isn't at all instructive.  As far as emailing them, a better solution is to wait until the public comment period opens and then submit something coherent rather than some internet ragefest.  The calendar shows that notice is tentatively scheduled for 4/10.  Edit:  check here if you'd like to leave public comments (in the future).  I didn't realize it, but you have the opportunity to comment on workshops--which is what the pdf was for--as well as rulemaking.  Have at it.   

Why is this the stupidest thing ever?  I'm interested to know. 

Huh?

It shows 1.2% reduction in A/C use for every 1°F. 1°C=1.8°F so a total of 2.16% reduction in a/c use from the fancy-schmancy paint.

They also talk about reductions from improved glass. 4°C reduction in temps from the glass alone. That equates to 7.2°F reduction and 8.64% reduction in a/c use. You get 4X the benefit from glass for a similar increase in cost. Why mandate the paint as well.

Also consider that this reduction they estimate to only be useful in 4 months out of the year. In the end, is it all even worth the extra legislation and changes to the industry? IMO, the glass is the only thing that is truly worth it.

[Howie]

Did they calculate fuel wasted from the air drag created because some people are now driving with sun roof and windows open or convertible top down instead of a closed car with the AC on? 

[herm]

Did they calculate fuel wasted from the air drag created because some people are now driving with sun roof and windows open or convertible top down instead of a closed car with the AC on? 

haha......

i was going to post the same thing, but from what i could find, it ends up being a wash unless you only do one type of driving

in town (under 40 mph) = ac reduces fuel economy by about 10%
out of town (over 40 mph) = open window reduces fuel economy by about 10%

[redial]

(inevitably "what is good for California" inevitably gets adopted elsewhere unfortunately) 

er..... is that true? not from where im standing (PA)

[mitt]

get ready

[stateprez]

get ready

That'll look awesome parked in front of your house with a government radio controlled thermostat too.

[ducatiz]

get ready

isn't that the taxi cab from Total Recall??

[Grampa]

get ready for carousel ala logans run.

[mitt]

That'll look awesome parked in front of your house with a government radio controlled thermostat too.

You mean apartments - houses also use too much energy.  

mitt

[Spidey]

It shows 1.2% reduction in A/C use for every 1°F. 1°C=1.8°F so a total of 2.16% reduction in a/c use from the fancy-schmancy paint.

They also talk about reductions from improved glass. 4°C reduction in temps from the glass alone. That equates to 7.2°F reduction and 8.64% reduction in a/c use. You get 4X the benefit from glass for a similar increase in cost. Why mandate the paint as well.

Also consider that this reduction they estimate to only be useful in 4 months out of the year. In the end, is it all even worth the extra legislation and changes to the industry? IMO, the glass is the only thing that is truly worth it.

good post.  

[il d00d]

If they are looking at saving gas on AC only (you might make the argument that a cooler engine would run more efficiently and burn less gas) why not just paint the roof a different color?  Or, I dunno, government-sponsored reflective sunshades?  Or, a leave your windows cracked when parked campaign?  Or, how about finally passing that law that requires gas stations to provide free compressed air (properly inflated tires can improve mileage by whole percentage points)?

If this applies to new cars only, aren't Californians supposed to be driving electric cars right around the time this law takes effect?

[ducatiz]

seems to me this could all be avoided by just banning a/c for cars in california

people survived for many years without it and even thru the 80s it was an option on cars.

it would probably lean out the state population as the weather wimps would leave.

[mitt]

How about if someone covered there car in black solar cells, that then powered an electric AC system?  Would they be in violation because of the color, even though they are much more efficient than a white standard AC car?  Again, this legislation seems short sighted, and will cause more problems than it fixes. 

Instead of banning things, why not have a $500 incentive for light color cars (or vice versa,  a tack on for dark color cars).  We have seen how well banning works with the lead toy fiasco.

mitt

[ducatiz]

How about if someone covered there car in black solar cells, that then powered an electric AC system?  Would they be in violation because of the color, even though they are much more efficient than a white standard AC car?  Again, this legislation seems short sighted, and will cause more problems than it fixes. 

Instead of banning things, why not have a $500 incentive for light color cars (or vice versa,  a tack on for dark color cars).  We have seen how well banning works with the lead toy fiasco.

mitt

nah, that's stupid

just give people a credit for using the A/C for X number of hours and if they exceed it, send over some goons to beat the shit out of them with baseball bats.  that will fix the problem.