Adam P. R. Taylor

Initial data and comparative analysis of a ‘white roof’ installation in New Zealand

White roofs are alleged to reflect the suns rays back into space, reducing absorbed heat in the structure, and therefore reducing the cooling requirements of the inhabited space. This paper presents comparative field data on structurally identical buildings with an installation of a newly painted white (Taitania) roof compared to the neighbouring existing control (red) roof. This paper is the first in a longitudinal series covering all seasons. During two weeks of autumn/fall, it was found that as expected, there were significant variances in roof and roof cavity temperatures between the white roofed building and the control (red) roofed building. Further, it was found that the inhabited rooms in the two near-identical structures showed very similar temperatures during the cooler parts of the day, initially suggesting roof colour of a ceiling-insulated structure has very little impact on the temperature of the inhabited space, but that during the hotter parts of the of day there could be up to a 7°C temp...

A comparative analysis of a white-roof installation during a New Zealand autumn and winter

AbstractIt has been asserted that a white roof reflects the sun’s rays back into space, reducing the heat absorbed into the structure beneath it and therefore reducing the cooling requirements of the occupied space. This paper presents comparative field data on structurally identical buildings with an installation of a painted white (Titania) iron roof compared to the neighbouring existing control (red) iron roof for autumn and winter. It is shown that there were significant variances in roof surface and roof cavity temperatures between the building with the white roof and the building with the red roof, and that the occupied rooms in the two near-identical buildings showed very similar temperatures during the cooler parts of the day. It is suggested that the roof colour of a ceiling-insulated structure has very little impact on the temperature of the occupied and insulated space, but that during the hotter parts of the day there can be up to a 10°C temperature differential in the roof. From this prelimin...

Exposure matters: Understanding the experiences of rural cultures

Engineering has been shown to be an important field of study and practice for economic and technological development, as well as an opportunity for students to improve their standard of living and their communities. Engineering also has the potential to provide a powerful career path in places that suffer disproportionate economic losses from shifts in the global economy, particularly as the growth of mobile communication technologies enable virtual work and local business development in areas formerly considered “remote” or “inaccessible.” Despite these opportunities, little investigative work to date has been done on recruitment of engineering students from rural cultures that are typically underrepresented in the field. To address this gap, this paper explores two such cultures: the Central Appalachians in the United States of America and the Maori in New Zealand. We present a review of the current situation in each region, along with preliminary findings from a study of Appalachian students, to identify both similarities and differences between the two peoples that can be used to enhance recruitment efforts and provide a global context for understanding the experiences of rural cultures.