Dark materials absorb more heat from the sun--as anyone who has worn a black t-shirt on a sunny day knows. Black surfaces in the sun can become up to 70°F (40°C) hotter than the most reflective white surfaces. Roads and parking lots are frequently paved with black asphalt concrete (commonly called "asphalt") and other dark materials that absorb most of the sunlight that falls upon them. The energy of the sunlight is converted into thermal energy and pavements get hot, heating the air around them and contributing greatly to the heat island effect. Link to: High Temperatures

We need to know how "black" the pavements are. Link to: Pavement Albedo. We also need to know how hot they get and how much effect this has on heating the air in cities. Link to: Cool Pavements Lower Temperatures. We then determine environmental costs of the hotter air. Link to: The Cost of Hotter Pavements. Finally we would like to find economical ways to cool pavements, reduce the heat island effect, and save energy by reducing the demand for air conditioning.

Now there are materials available for roadways that reflect more sunlight and last longer because they are not as stressed by the excessive heat. Link to: Pavement Durability. Cities would have cooler summers at no extra cost if they began using these materials for paving new roads and resurfacing old ones as the need arose. Link to: The Paving Process. There are also cooler, reflective materials available for roofs with similar benefits. Link to: Cool Roofs

For an overview of some benefits of cooler pavements, link to: "Benefits of Cooler Pavements".