Phoenix is working to address urban heat. The City of Phoenix Street Transportation Department and Arizona State University's Walton Sustainability Solutions Service are testing a new version of CoolSeal pavement technology, called CoolSeal 2.0. Results from the second phase of testing indicate that this new technology is effective in keeping the city’s streets cooler.
What is the significance? A recent presentation at Burton Barr Central Library indicated that the cool pavement can reduce summer surface temperatures by up to 12°F during the day compared to conventional aged pavement. This may decrease long-term road maintenance needs and costs, potentially leading to economic and environmental benefits, as reported by the City of Phoenix.
"Phoenix is a city leader in cool pavement implementation, testing, and driving industry innovation," Jenni Vanos, Associate Professor at ASU and member of the research team, told the City of Phoenix newsroom. Brandy Kelso, Interim Director for the City of Phoenix Street Transportation Department, also highlighted the value of the partnership with ASU, saying, “This unique partnership with ASU continues to guide the Street Transportation Department in our cool pavement application planning and strategy.”
Those interested in how Phoenix is addressing urban heat can view the results of the second year of testing on the city's website.
