Precast Concrete Pavements of High Albedo to Achieve the Net “Zero-Emissions” Commitments
Pavements store heat, which is subsequently released into the atmosphere, heating the surrounding air. Therefore, this process contributes to climate change and global warming. For this reason, the use of high-solar-reflectance (albedo) pavements is seen as one of the potential mitigation methods fo...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-02-01
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| Series: | Applied Sciences |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/12/4/1955 |
| _version_ | 1827657346464088064 |
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| author | Miguel Ángel Sanjuán Ángel Morales Aniceto Zaragoza |
| author_facet | Miguel Ángel Sanjuán Ángel Morales Aniceto Zaragoza |
| author_sort | Miguel Ángel Sanjuán |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Pavements store heat, which is subsequently released into the atmosphere, heating the surrounding air. Therefore, this process contributes to climate change and global warming. For this reason, the use of high-solar-reflectance (albedo) pavements is seen as one of the potential mitigation methods for climate change. Concrete pavements have a much higher albedo than asphalt due to their light gray color compared with black pavements. Accordingly, the widespread utilization of highly reflective concrete pavements will improve local climate change mitigation. Nevertheless, concrete albedo slightly decreases over time because of weathering. Albedo and solar reflectance index (SRI) measurements were taken on actual precast concrete pavements made with different mixes. The methodology applied for this project is based on the comparison between the asphalt and concrete pavements’ reflectivity. Conventional concrete mix designs can provide cool pavements with SRI higher than 29. Replacement of black pavements by highly reflective concrete pavements appeared to be a cost-effective and easily implemented measure to combat climate change. Finally, multidisciplinary studies considering factors such as building materials’ albedo, among other mitigation measures, should be performed to provide more precise and reliable guidance to policymakers, stakeholders, decision makers and urban planners. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T22:41:55Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-ba8fafbba10d4536a2725ae2fddaf216 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-3417 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T22:41:55Z |
| publishDate | 2022-02-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Applied Sciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-ba8fafbba10d4536a2725ae2fddaf2162023-11-23T18:36:51ZengMDPI AGApplied Sciences2076-34172022-02-01124195510.3390/app12041955Precast Concrete Pavements of High Albedo to Achieve the Net “Zero-Emissions” CommitmentsMiguel Ángel Sanjuán0Ángel Morales1Aniceto Zaragoza2Spanish Institute of Cement and Its Applications (IECA), C/José Abascal, 53, 28003 Madrid, SpainConcentrating Solar Power Unit (CIEMAT), Avenida Complutense, 40, 28040 Madrid, SpainOficemen, C/José Abascal, 53, 28003 Madrid, SpainPavements store heat, which is subsequently released into the atmosphere, heating the surrounding air. Therefore, this process contributes to climate change and global warming. For this reason, the use of high-solar-reflectance (albedo) pavements is seen as one of the potential mitigation methods for climate change. Concrete pavements have a much higher albedo than asphalt due to their light gray color compared with black pavements. Accordingly, the widespread utilization of highly reflective concrete pavements will improve local climate change mitigation. Nevertheless, concrete albedo slightly decreases over time because of weathering. Albedo and solar reflectance index (SRI) measurements were taken on actual precast concrete pavements made with different mixes. The methodology applied for this project is based on the comparison between the asphalt and concrete pavements’ reflectivity. Conventional concrete mix designs can provide cool pavements with SRI higher than 29. Replacement of black pavements by highly reflective concrete pavements appeared to be a cost-effective and easily implemented measure to combat climate change. Finally, multidisciplinary studies considering factors such as building materials’ albedo, among other mitigation measures, should be performed to provide more precise and reliable guidance to policymakers, stakeholders, decision makers and urban planners.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/12/4/1955climate change1.5 °C climate goalalbedogreenhouse gasesclimate change policies |
| spellingShingle | Miguel Ángel Sanjuán Ángel Morales Aniceto Zaragoza Precast Concrete Pavements of High Albedo to Achieve the Net “Zero-Emissions” Commitments Applied Sciences climate change 1.5 °C climate goal albedo greenhouse gases climate change policies |
| title | Precast Concrete Pavements of High Albedo to Achieve the Net “Zero-Emissions” Commitments |
| title_full | Precast Concrete Pavements of High Albedo to Achieve the Net “Zero-Emissions” Commitments |
| title_fullStr | Precast Concrete Pavements of High Albedo to Achieve the Net “Zero-Emissions” Commitments |
| title_full_unstemmed | Precast Concrete Pavements of High Albedo to Achieve the Net “Zero-Emissions” Commitments |
| title_short | Precast Concrete Pavements of High Albedo to Achieve the Net “Zero-Emissions” Commitments |
| title_sort | precast concrete pavements of high albedo to achieve the net zero emissions commitments |
| topic | climate change 1.5 °C climate goal albedo greenhouse gases climate change policies |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/12/4/1955 |
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