Cool Roof Materials Are Now Being Used On Street Roads In 2023!

By now I’m sure you’ve heard about cool roofs, but have you heard about cool paving?  In an effort to reduce the Urban Heat Island effect, more and more streets in Los Angeles are turning to cool paving to reduce heat emissions in a similar fashion to cool roofs. 

As I mentioned Cool Paving works very similar to Cool Roofing.  It can be done using methods such as

  1. Using reflective or light-colored materials: Materials like white or light-gray concrete and asphalt can reflect more of the sun’s rays, which can help to reduce the surface temperature of the pavement.
  2. Incorporating porous surfaces: Porous pavements, such as permeable pavers or porous asphalt, allow water to permeate through the surface, rather than running off, which can help to keep the pavement cooler.
  3. Incorporating vegetation: Including grass, shrubs, or trees in pavement designs can help to shade the surface and reduce its temperature.
  4. Using green roofs: Green roofs are roofs that are covered with vegetation and soil. They can help to insulate buildings, reduce stormwater runoff, and lower surface temperature.
  5. Combination of the above: Combining these different strategies can be even more effective at reducing the surface temperature of pavements.

It is important to note that all the above methods are not suitable for all places, and it depends on various factors such as the location, the intended use of the pavement, and the budget.

Los Angeles Street Before Cool Pavement

Los Angeles Street Before Cool Pavement

Now that you know what Cool Paving is and how it gets done, let’s look at 5 Things You Need to Know About Cool Paving Right Now.

Cool Paving Street in Los Angeles

After Cool Pavement

#1 Cool Paving Design

The cool paving material is designed to reflect more sunlight and absorb less heat than traditional paving materials. This can help to reduce the urban heat island effect and make outdoor spaces more comfortable during hot weather.

 

#2 Cool Pavement Materials

Cool pavement is typically made from materials such as asphalt or concrete that have been modified with reflective pigments or coatings. These materials can reflect up to 85% of the sun’s rays, compared to traditional paving materials which typically reflect only about 5-15%.

 

#3 Cool Pavement can be made from previous materials

In another win for the environment, cool pavement can also be made from previous materials such as porous asphalt or permeable pavers, which allow water to filter through the surface and recharge underground aquifers. Thus helping the environment.

 

#4 Like Cool Roofs They Can Lower Local Temperatures

 

The similarities to “cool roofing” are uncanny. As the use of cool pavement can help to lower local temperatures and reduce the need for air conditioning, which can lead to energy savings and reduced greenhouse gas emissions.

 

#5 They Reduce the Heat Island Effect

 

Cool pavement is a cost-effective solution for reducing the heat island effect, which can be implemented at a relatively low cost compared to other cooling strategies such as green roofs or shading.

 

Conclusion

 

It’s important to add that Cool Pavement alone cannot combat the heat island effect alone but it does give us another method to combine with cool roofing along with other measures to reduce carbon emissions, and use less energy. With that being said they do also come with the benefit of helping your wallet (more so cool roofing than cool paving) but that should not be understated. 

 

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