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Heat island mitigation with paving material

Cool paving materials minimize the absorption of solar heat and the subsequent transfer of this heat to the surroundings.

There are two types of cool paving materials: lighter-colored materials and porous materials. Lighter-colored materials have higher solar reflectance, so they absorb less of the sun's energy and stay cooler. Lighter-colored materials come in shades of white, beige, light gray and terra cotta.

Permeable, or porous, pavements allow water to filter into the ground, keeping the pavement cool when moist. Permeable pavements can be constructed from a number of materials including concrete, asphalt, and plastic lattice structures filled with soil, gravel, and grass.

Although there is no official standard or labeling program to designate cool paving materials, communities interested in reducing the heat island effect may consider surface reflectance and permeability – along with other costs and benefits – when selecting a paving product.

Source: US EPA

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