California painted an entire neighbourhood's roads a lighter colour; pavements became 5°C cooler, although the air fell by only about 0.2°C
A California experiment showed reflective coatings lowered road temperatures significantly. These cool pavements increase surface albedo, reflecting more solar radiation. However, traffic and pollution reduced the coating's effectiveness after one year. Cool pavements alone cannot entirely prevent urban overheating. Cities must combine this with green spaces and shade for better…
The Times of India ·