Phoenix cool pavement lowers road heat but raises pedestrian heat exposure

Phoenix applied a reflective coating to its roads as part of efforts to combat the urban heat island effect, successfully reducing asphalt surface temperatures during the day. However, a new study found that the coating unintentionally increased heat radiation exposure for pedestrians walking nearby. Researchers concluded that reflective pavements alone are insufficient to improve human comfort on city streets. They recommended that cities combine such treatments with natural shade from trees and buildings to more effectively address rising urban temperatures.