DANA POINT, Calif .– (BUSINESS WIRE) – Last year, the Phoenix City Department of Transportation and the Bureau of Sustainability, with researchers from Arizona State University (ASU), launched the Cool Pavement pilot program, which aims to cool neighborhoods and save energy costs. In a virtual presentation and panel discussion on September 14th, the City of Phoenix published the results of the first year of this innovative program. The study, conducted by scientists from the ASU Global Institute of Sustainability and Innovation, Healthy Urban Environments, and the Urban Climate Research Center, found that the reflective pavement surface temperatures of GuardTop’s CoolSeal are significantly lower than traditional pavement surfaces.
In the study, the CoolSeal cooling ceiling had an average surface temperature of 10.5 to 12 degrees Fahrenheit below that of conventional asphalt at midday and afternoon. ASU researchers found that CoolSeal’s cooler pavement coating reflects more of the incident sunlight and absorbs less heat. Thanks to this higher reflection, the coating can possibly compensate for rising night temperatures in the region.
So far, the study has shown that nighttime air temperature at six feet on the cool road surface was an average of 0.5 degrees Fahrenheit lower than on the untreated surfaces. According to David Sailor, director of the Urban Climate Research Center at ASU, just one degree can make a big difference.
“Reducing the air temperature by a single degree Fahrenheit during the summer could save households about $ 15 million in air conditioning costs,” explains Sailor.
The study also found that subsurface temperatures in the areas treated with CoolSeal were an average of 4.8 degrees Fahrenheit lower. According to Davis Koleas, sustainability project manager at GuardTop, that means the depth of the asphalt was nearly five degrees cooler, not just the surface, which shows that the asphalt is staying softer rather than hardening or cracking. This is good news for local authorities as it proves that CoolSeal will last longer, which will reduce future maintenance costs.
Ultimately, reducing surface temperatures can result in cooler air temperatures, which, as Sailor points out, can have a significant impact on heat-related diseases, air quality, water and energy consumption.
City officials are developing plans for a second phase of the Cool Pavement pilot program.
“The effects of urban heat islands can be felt by everyone and have a major impact on our ecosystem and our daily life,” says Koleas. “Phoenix and ASU have both invested time and money to work effectively to reduce the damage already done. We are confident that residents and visitors alike will benefit from the advantages and will find more comfort all round. ”
With this pilot program, Phoenix now has the coolest sidewalk in North America. Los Angeles, California is following in his footsteps. Mayor Eric Garcetti recently launched the next phase of his Cool Streets LA program, which will bring 200 blocks (or more than 60 miles) of cool sidewalk and nearly 2,000 new trees to eight neighborhoods across Los Angeles.
About GuardTop, LLC
GuardTop has been committed to providing high quality asphalt protection products since 1983. With an ever-growing line of products and a commitment to sustainability, GuardTop has grown into an internationally trusted manufacturer of asphalt-based sealants. As a family business with strong values rooted in safety and environmental sustainability, GuardTop goes one step further to ensure that all customers and employees are treated like family members.
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