Why Do The Houses In Bermuda Have White Roofs

Professor henrietta moore ucl institute for global prosperity comments on how white stepped roofs in bermuda are designed to harvest rain.

Why do the houses in bermuda have white roofs. Why houses in bermuda have white stepped roofs bbcnews the north atlantic island of bermuda has no fresh water springs rivers or lakes. The roofs are designed to catch water of which there is no fresh supply in bermuda apart from rain. The whitewashed roofs have a tremendous and positive environmental impact and they always say that necessity is the mother of invention. 1 as a way to keep the inside of the house cool in our very hot summers.

The secret is in the design of their houses and particularly the white stepped roof which is still in use 400 years after it was first introduced. The roofs that sit atop houses which are akin to those in british villages but with more festive pastel paint jobs are built out of limestone to withstand hurricane force winds. We have white roofs for 2 main reasons. Just like the blue and white houses in santorini you re hit with a certain aesthetic feel but did you know that the scarcity of fresh water has made them a necessity.

The white roofs also keep their homes cooler during the hotter months. A british visitor to bermuda will feel instantly. The secret is in the design of their houses and particularly the white stepped roof which is still in use 400 years after it was first introduced. The walls are designed to restrict damage from hurricanes and are required by law to be able to withstand wind speeds of over 100 mph 160 km h.

So how did humans ever settle there. 50 of all the potable water consumed in bermuda comes from their roofs.