Research Shows Cool Pavement Coatings Can Raise Ambient Temperature

New research from Arizona State University delves into the complicated impacts of cool pavement treatments, which can reduce surface temperatures in concrete-heavy urban areas but can also increase the “thermal stress” felt by a person standing on these heat-reflective surfaces and are thus not appropriate for all areas.

Writing in Smart Cities Dive, Ysabelle Kempe explains, “Cool pavement technology is most effective on large parking lots that lack shade or in car-centric cities with hot climates, low cloud cover and wide residential streets, the researchers say. It’s not effective in high-rise downtown areas and shouldn’t be used in areas with high pedestrian traffic like playgrounds, plazas or parks, they add.”

In essence, the treatments have a bigger effect on the surface they’re applied to than on the ambient temperature for people walking on them. “Experts say these types of results indicate cool pavement is not a solution to rising heat-related illness and death tolls. Indeed, the researchers in Phoenix say that installing cool pavement in areas with high pedestrian traffic could be considered a ‘maladaptation’ in regards to the experience of pedestrians,” inadvertently putting people at higher risk for heat-related illnesses.

The study suggests that cities’ heat mitigation strategies should focus more on trees and other ways to create shade.