Los Angeles Is Painting The Streets White, And There's A Good Reason Why

While some still try to deny that our climate is changing, others have to deal with it already. The residents of Los Angeles are among them, and now they're looking for some 'outside the box' ideas to fight the unbearable heat. To combat temperatures that reach 130 -140 degrees on the road's surface, the city of Los Angeles has started a pilot project to test out the "cool pavement." 15 streets were covered with this asphalt-based paint-like substance to cool down the streets by about 11-13 degrees Fahrenheit and therefore cools down the buildings around them. It might not seem like a lot, but according to the report by Environmental Protection Agency, if 35% of LA's streets were covered with a reflective surface like this, it would translate into a 1-degree drop in temperature throughout the city, which means around $100 million per year in energy savings. A truly awesome idea, and that's not even mentioning how cool it looks! More info: twitter (h/t: curbed)

Temperatures in Los Angeles reach dangerous levels, so the city has started a pilot project to test out the "cool pavement"

Image source: LA Street Services

15 streets were covered with this asphalt-based paint-like substance to cool down the streets

Image source: LA Street Services

Tests proved it lowers the temperature of the street by 11-13 degrees Fahrenheit and therefore cools down the buildings around them

Image source: Mitch O'Farrell

If 35% of LA's streets were covered with a reflective surface like this, it would translate into a 1-degree drop in city's temperature...

Image source: LA Street Services

Might seem like nothing, but it would translate into around $100 million per year in energy savings

Image source: LA Street Services

A truly awesome idea, and that's not even mentioning how cool it looks!