Why Do Buses Have White Roofs

Now more and more states and school districts are finding that painting the tops of school.

Why do buses have white roofs.

More specifically white panels reflect the rays of the summer sun thus keeping the vehicles cooler. The white roof of a bus makes the temperature inside drop an average of 10 degrees during warm seasons and only 3 to 4 degrees in wintertime. Helps the prevent the interior from turning into an oven on clear days. But this is when most bus drivers use the strobes.

Most of the buses used in the summer are air conditioned but it is quite plausible that the white roof also helps reduce temperatures inside the bus. A program to install white panels atop the capital s trademark red buses to. After 10 years 98 5 percent of the fleet of 8 700 has white roofs thus improving the overall conditions for passengers and drivers as well as reducing fuel consumption for air conditioning systems. The worst time to have them on.

Besides in the case of an emergency a bus will be. White roofs are around to lower temperatures inside of the bus and for appearance. Those are the only two reasons that i know of. Every little bit you can do to keep the school bus cooler helps.

According to this nearly 20 year old new york times article the reason is that white tops are more reflective lowering the temperature inside the bus by an average of 10 degrees during the summer. I remember reading once that the white roof may lower the temperature on a hot day by 5 degrees. Air conditioning school buses used to mean opening windows which on a hot day simply let in hot air. Climate proofing is built into its work according to helen woolston sustainability coordinator at tfl.

Some of the older buses in our fleet have white painted roofs to reflect the sun. Due to the intensity of the brilliant white light source the intended use for strobes is during daylight hours of operation. Strobes should really not be used in inclement weather in the clouds or on the ground as this can cause flicker vertigo. I was perplexed as to why.

The white roofs on modern buses have grown in popularity as a simple and effective means of keeping buses cooler during the hottest months of the year. Air conditioning helps but it can only do so much on a hot summer afternoon. Ian kemmish november 2 2010 5 10pm.