Skip to content

Rethinking the Link Between Pavement Albedo and UHI

Reflective pavements are promoted as a tool for mitigating the urban heat island effect (UHI), but the science to support such claims is lacking. Most of the research backing such claims deals with rooftops, not pavements, and the effects and value of reflective surfaces are different when they are below our feet instead of well above our heads. This technical factsheet explores the issue and highlights what the pavement-focused research on albedo modification has found.

Download this Resource