An idea I played with since the mid ‘90’s, more for city/suburbia, and was able to test in college, green energies, was “second layering”. A second roof or wall, atop or in front of any thing getting sun. A roof 2-3” over a peak roof, by placing say 2x3s over existing plywood, that has been radiant painted, and adding another layer of plywood or metal roof, vented at the bottom and top, and peek vented. Similar method on sun faced walls. Passive cooling shading, with no radiant pass through. It made a huge difference.
I have seen drawings of this hinted, online, every once in a moon. I lived in north Mojave for a while, where many mobile homes would put a giant carport over a double wide for shading. I was a carpenter on the north shore of Chicago, when thought of, and wondered how much energy this would have saved, cities wide. Most, just shrugged, at the idea, “too expensive, for the second layer.” There are always ways to learn how to take a good idea and make it less expensive. That’s why sites like this exist.
I have been learning since then about more off-grid living(thatch and growing roofs) and all kinds of better ideas across the board. But still think this concept would really help more city/suburbia areas, that don’t do much of anything, but A/C and cutting down their “dirty trees”.
Not the most economic solution for some, but did get me an accommodation and top of class in college, in my 40’s. Hope this may help, inspire a better concept.
.png)
