Eric Niiler of The Wall Street Journal reports on cities that are using reflective paint to lower temperatures.
- Cities, which disproportionately suffer from extreme heat due to a lack of green space and surplus of hard infrastructure, are turning to reflective paint to bring down temperatures.
- The Los Angeles neighborhood of Pacoima, which is heavily industrialized, has partnered GAF, a New Jersey-based roofing manufacturer, to paint basketball courts, local parks, and neighborhoods with reflective coatings.
- These reflective coatings have reduced air temperatures in the test area by 3.5° F on extreme heat days and surface temperatures by 10°.
- Private sector innovation is creating environmental solutions and progress.
“Cooling technologies mitigate this. Green roofs absorb heat before it penetrates the buildings beneath. Super-reflective coatings reflect the sun’s visible light and invisible infrared radiation away from surfaces to keep them cooler. And an ultra-white paint developed at Purdue University promises even more protection, although the product isn’t commercially available yet. Each strategy helps reduce energy use.”
Read the full article here.
The views and opinions expressed are those of the author’s and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of C3.
