Energy and Sustainability Engineering
Welcome to a living laboratory!
Four test lots right here in Penn Park are running a side-by-side comparison of cooling pavement technologies. The central question: which pavement coatings best reduce urban heat, and how do they hold up over time?
The findings will directly inform Philadelphia’s climate resilience strategy.
Quick Facts
The Problem
Cities are hotter than surrounding areas – this is called the Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect, and pavement is a major driver. Traditional asphalt absorbs up to 95% of solar radiation, releasing heat throughout the night and worsening dangerous conditions during heat waves.
In Philadelphia, low-income neighborhoods and communities of color bear the brunt of this heat due to historic underinvestment in green infrastructure. Heat is the leading cause of weather-related death in the U.S.
Cooling pavement coatings are a scalable, cost-effective way to fight back.
The Research
Methodology
01
Surface temperature vs. uncoated asphalt
02
Mean Radiant Temperature (human heat comfort)
03
Durability over time
04
Air temperature, humidity, and weather conditions
University of Pennsylvania
Dr. Dorit Aviv & Dr. Russel Composto (PIs), Composto Lab & Thermal Architecture Lab
City of Philadelphia
Office of Sustainability
Technology Partners
CoolSeal, ePave LLC, SealMaster, ULINE
In the News
