According to SmartPlanet, the city of Phoenix contracted the Arizona-based company Emerald Cities Cool Pavement to cover a 8300sqm temporary parking lot with the greenish, paint-like substance called nano-concrete. The goal is to avoid the “heat island” effect in the downtown area which happens when asphalt stores heat emanating from the sun and amplifies the temperature in the vicinity.
Temperatures in Phoenix can reach upwards of 48C, and the asphalt can get as hot as 77C. Reducing the ground temperature with this cool pavement coating will not only make life easier on pedestrians and bike riders in the downtown area, but will help extend the life of the asphalt, reduce carbon dioxide emissions and improve air quality.
The parking lot in question is currently in the process of being covered in the reflective coating and will be unveiled on June 10. [Emerald Cities Cool Pavement via Smart Planet]
Waterbear
Wednesday, June 1, 2011 at 4:00 PMThat’s going to look disgusting in about a month from oil and rubber stains. Good idea, but from a longevity perspective I don’t think it’s going to cut it.
ChemZ
Wednesday, June 1, 2011 at 7:07 PMSo true, unless they clean the whole area every few days or so.
Clearly the technology isn’t there just yet, paint should be clear instead of colour.
Charles
Thursday, June 2, 2011 at 2:12 AMI would imagine the main heat reducing element of the paint is it’s colour, so if it was clear, the black of the asphalt would still be there, absorbing lots of heat…
billy jackson
Sunday, June 12, 2011 at 4:38 AMActually, we spent two years developing this with the top US laboratories and MIT and so obviously these comments are about problems that were early on addressed and overcome. For the record, it is not “paint” it is a nano-engineered solar reflective coating. Color is a factor but complex science is the main mitigator of heat and GHGs- but this is science not decoration – it contains titanium oxide for example which neutralizes CO2 and NOX emissions and thus qualifies for carbon credit. Tire marks etc. on existing sites are easily removed with a simple power wash (water) as the product is impervious (unlike asphalt) and so the water runs off clean and non-toxic and doesn’t poison the water table. As someone who lived in OZ for 7 years, love the country and people but I do know the knee-jerk need for some to fall straight into the tall poppy syndrome – but maybe you could do some research first and cut some slack for those of us on the front line who get off the couch, spend our time, money and are busting our balls to make the planet better and safer. And we’ll be down under very shortly – I hear there is some very hot asphalt there.