# From the blogosphere: DOE does cool, Google goes with wind

*Published:* 2010-07-21
*Author:* Rebecca Rasch

[CleanTechies joined](http://blog.cleantechies.com/2010/07/21/cool-roofs-could-offset-two-years-of-co2-emissions) [several of their](http://www.treehugger.com/files/2010/07/doe-goes-to-white-roofs.php) [online colleagues](http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/07/21/in-a-climate-quest-the-roof-as-white-knight/) in enthusiastically reporting on cool roofs, which “could help reduce global temperatures and offset the heat from as much as two years of global greenhouse gas emissions,” according to [a new report](http://newscenter.lbl.gov/news-releases/2010/07/19/cool-roofs-offset-carbon-dioxide-emissions/) from the Berkeley Lab. The report found that “increasing the reflectivity of roofs and pavement in cities with populations greater than 1 million would have a one-time cooling effect equivalent to reducing global CO2 emissions by 57 billion metric tons.” And more good news: “As part of an initiative to promote a transition to cooler surfaces, U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu directed all department offices to install cool roofs on any new buildings or when replacing old ones.”

Another widely-discussed piece today was about internet giant Google. As reported in Huffington Post, “Hot on the heels of its $38.8 billion investment in two wind farms in North Dakota, Google has just signed a 20-year contract with an Iowa wind farm that enables the search giant to purchase wind power at a set rate over the next two decades.” [Treehugger goes on](http://www.treehugger.com/files/2010/07/google-energy-buys-20-year-wind-power-iowa-114-megawatts.php) to praise the contract for not only taking a step toward the company’s stated goal of becoming carbon neutral, but also for providing critical funding for clean energy projects.