There’s a Reason Why Los Angeles Is Painting Its Streets White

While some continue to deny that our climate is changing, others are already dealing with the consequences. Los Angeles residents are among them, and they’re seeking some “out of the box” solutions to combat the oppressive heat.

Los Angeles has initiated a pilot project to try out “cool pavement” to battle temperatures on the road surface that exceed 130-140 degrees. This asphalt-based paint-like material was applied to 15 streets to cool them down by 11-13 degrees Fahrenheit, which also cools the buildings near them.

It may not seem like much, though according to an Environmental Protection Agency assessment, covering 35 percent of LA’s roadways with a reflective surface like this would result in a 1-degree reduction in temperature across the city, saving roughly $100 million per year in electricity.

Los Angeles is experiencing dangerously high temperatures, so the city has launched a pilot project to try out “cool pavement.”

To cool down the roadways, an asphalt-based paint-like liquid was applied to 15 streets.

According to tests, it decreases the roadway’s temperature by 11-13 degrees Fahrenheit, which cools the buildings surrounding it.

If 35 percent of LA’s roadways were coated with a reflecting surface like this. The city’s temperature would decrease by one degree.

It may seem minor, but it would result in annual energy savings of roughly $100 million.