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Cool Streets
NEW HUE: White-colored streets may help cool down urban areas.
On hot days, temperatures can soar in Los Angeles, California. The black asphalt that’s used to pave streets absorbs the sun’s rays, making the city even hotter than less-developed areas nearby. To battle this heat island effect, Los Angeles is trying a new solution—painting its streets white.
More of the sun’s rays reflect off, or bounce off, white-colored pavement than black asphalt. The city’s white streets absorb less heat, lowering surface temperatures. Los Angeles’s Bureau of Street Services recently painted 15 city blocks white. Early results suggest that streets painted white were 10 degrees cooler. Officials hope to expand the program next summer.
SPECIAL PAINT: This reflective white coating was developed by the military to help hide spy planes from heat sensors.
This graph shows a typical change in temperature in and around a small city due to the heat island effect. What’s one way, other than painting streets white, to cool down city centers?