Sealant Reflects Heat from Roofs and Paving, Reducing Air-Conditioning Power Drain

  In cities, dark-colored paving and roofing materials absorb heat, warming buildings,and the city environment. GuardTop LLC, with the help of Professor George Bann-Weiss, a civil and environmental engineer, has proven that its CoolSeal coating can help reduce this warming effect. Bann-Weis’s earlier work on heat-reflective roof coatings led to his interest in investigating a similar coating for asphalt pavements.

    The product was tested in LA’s Canoga Park with additional sponsorship from the California Energy Commission and the National Science Foundation, and pavement temperatures were 10F lower in the coated area. The Los Angeles City Council has set aside $150,000 to treat 15 of its streets with CoolSeal, but although it will have a cooling effect, Professor Bann-Weiss warns that the reflected light from pavements may be a little uncomfortable for some pedestrians. Nevertheless, he is confident that cooler pavements will reduce air conditioning energy use.