Phoenix operates the largest cool-pavement program in the United States, with reflective sealcoat applied to over 110 miles of residential streets by 2024. The Street Transportation Department leads the program, targeting heat-vulnerable neighborhoods to reduce surface temperatures.
Phoenix launched its Cool Pavement Program in 2020 as a pilot with the Office of Sustainability, Street Transportation Department, and Arizona State University. The program applies a water-based asphalt-emulsion sealcoat that reflects more solar energy than conventional asphalt, reducing surface temperatures by 10 to 12 degrees Fahrenheit on hot afternoons. By 2024, more than 110 miles of streets had been treated, making it the largest program of its kind in the United States. Treatments prioritize residential streets in heat-vulnerable zip codes flagged in Phoenix Heat Action Plan mapping. The program is a city capital investment, not a permit requirement on private parking lots, though commercial developers may use cool surfaces voluntarily for energy-code compliance.
The program imposes no penalties on residents or businesses; it is a Phoenix capital project. Private parking lots and driveways are not required to use cool-pavement materials, though they may earn voluntary credit under the Phoenix Green Construction Code.
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