Pavement temperature

On a sunny summer day, the temperature on black asphalt can be much more than that of a light colored cement driveway.   

In California they're seal-coating with a light color to help mitigate the heat island effect impacting the city’s neighborhoods and urban areas. They use a light grey asphalt-based sealcoat that is similar to other asphalt sealcoat products often used in parking lots and neighborhoods. However, unlike traditional black pavement, it's designed to achieve lower surface temperatures through its lighter color and solar reflectivity.

It's not a paint, but a regular asphalt-based sealcoat. It helps to maintain the performance and durability of underlying asphalt. It is designed to reflect the sun’s energy to produce cooler surface temperatures through its lighter color and increased reflectivity. It can reduce surface temperatures by 10-25 degrees Fahrenheit.

Conventional black asphalt absorbs the sun’s rays and can reach temperatures in excess of 160 degrees Fahrenheit. Light pavement is designed to reflect sunlight and reduce pavement temperatures. It’s similar to the difference between a tan and black car on a hot day. Black pavement can get so hot that it burns off pet’s paw pads and creates an unsafe environment for children to play on. Black asphalt is also a contributing factor to the heat island effect.

According to the EPA, heat islands can affect communities by increasing summertime peak energy demand, air conditioning costs, air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, heat-related illness, mortality and by decreasing water quality.

The price of light colored sealant is actually very similar in price to current street programs used in various cities to maintain roadways. Light colors provide longer lasting protection and less frequent applications are required to maintain performance. Ther light-colored surfaces like concrete. Normal street cleaning is recommended to maintain reflectance.

Light Sealant works in conjunction with trees and vegetation to help mitigate heat islands. Planting trees is just one part of the solution. According to the EPA, cool pavements can reduce the temperature of storm water runoff and improve water quality, increase nighttime visibility, improve local comfort, and reduce lighting requirements which saves energy and money.

How much?  Let's find out!  Maybe our HOA will adapt!!

Sign up here and we will text you at noon on one sunny day every week.  Within an hour, go outside your house and using you best fever thermometer, 

or 

take the temperature of:

1. the asphalt in the sun in the street near you
2. a light colored cement object near you - driveway, sidewalk
3. your lawn
4. the mulch in a shady spot
5. ambient air

Reply to the text with the five numbers and the time separated by commas:

i.e. 103,92,90,86,85,1330  

Results here:

And speaking of trees, here's a terrific article by Betty and Maarten Simon Thomas' daughter Juli about tree canopies....