News
Monday, June 3, 2013
The 34th AIVC Conference, titled "Energy conservation technologies for mitigation and adaptation in the built environment: the role of ventilation strategies and smart materials," will take place 25-26 September 2013 in Athens, Greece. This Joint Conference will focus on ventilative cooling, and is co-sponsored by TightVent, the European Cool Roof Council, and Venticool.
Wednesday, May 29, 2013
As a part of Berkeley Lab's ongoing Science Video Glossary, scientists from the Heat Island Group discuss the team's research.
Wednesday, April 17, 2013
By John Kemp
Converting the world's roofs from dark colours to reflective white would cancel the warming effect of 1 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide each year for the lifetime of the roof, according to former California Energy Commissioner Arthur Rosenfeld.
Wednesday, April 3, 2013
By Sarah Lakow, Grist.org
Grist.org features Heat Island Group research and outreach efforts for cool pavements.
Tuesday, April 2, 2013
Mayor of Los Angeles Antonio Villaraigosa has directed the Department of Building and Safety to incorporate cool roof requirements in its building code. Mayor Villaraigosa is also asking the Department of Water and Power (LADWP) to create incentives that make it financially attractive for homeowners to install cool roofs.
Saturday, March 16, 2013
On Saturday, March 16, the Heat Island Group added two new cool pavement coatings to the Bevatron Lot at Berkeley Lab. The new additions feature Western Colloid's Armor Top asphalt-based coatings in two colors: Stealth Gray and California Tan. The coatings are tinted light colors using titanium dioxide and recycled materials to produce a surface with an initial solar reflectance above 20%, higher than the 5-10% of the dark asphalt parking lot surface underneath.
Saturday, March 2, 2013
Australian radio program "Beyond Zero Emissions" discusses building design and the urban heat island effect with the Heat Island Group's Principal Research Associate, Haley Gilbert.
Read the show description and listen to full audio of the interview at the Beyond Zero Emissions site.
Friday, March 1, 2013
University of California - Research
The University of California Office of Research has released an infographic to highlight the phenomenon known as the urban heat island effect. In three illustrated panels, the graphic shows what characterizes and causes urban heat islands, drawing from Heat Island Group research.
Sunday, February 10, 2013
James Temple, San Francisco Chronicle
When it comes to counteracting climate change, the headlines tend to focus on the seemingly sci-fi stuff. But there are down-to-earth versions of the same basic concept, approaches as simple as painting roofs white or using light-colored pavement. A group at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratories is exploring how big an impact this approach could have on global warming, as well as developing next-generation building materials that could reflect more light.
Monday, February 4, 2013
Last week, 30 members of the China National Building Waterproof Association, which represents Chinese roofing manufacturers, and Chinese government officials came to Berkeley Lab for a daylong workshop on cool roofs. Participants learned about how cool roofing and paving materials can mitigate the urban heat island effect, reduce building air conditioning loads, and slow global warming.