Buildings and pavement made of dark materials such as asphalt (a petroleum based product) absorb most or all of the sun's energy instead of reflecting it away, causing the temperature of the surfaces and the air around it to rise. These higher temperatures result in the urban heat island effect. The urban heat island effect is detrimental in many ways, including increased energy usage through higher air conditioning costs, increased ozone and increased respiratory problems resulting from an elevation in pollution levels.

Planting trees and bushes and adding more green space is one of the best ways to combat the heat island effect in the urban landscape. Vegetation can save energy by providing shade and lowering temperatures in urban areas, but there will always be a need for paved areas. That's where SOLACHROME High-SRI Concrete Systems fit into your plans. When specifying paved areas, one of the first and foremost concerns should be its environmental impact. You want to install a hardscape that has high solar reflectivity, which results in less solar energy absorbed and lower pavement temperatures. SOLACHROME High-SRI Concrete Systems were engineered specifically for that purpose.

Both SOLACHROME™ Integral Treatment for High-SRI Colored Concrete and patented SOLACHROME™ High-SRI Topping are available in a multitude of designer colors that provide higher solar reflectivity values than aspahlt or plain gray concrete. Many of these colors reflect more solar energy than they absorb*, producing cooler pavement which reduces the urban heat island effect.

SOLACHROME High-SRI Concrete Systems can provide increased solar reflectivity in concrete hardscapes

All color selections of SOLACHROME High-SRI Concrete Systems have equal or higher solar reflectivity values than plain gray concrete. The result is that they can help reduce Heat Island Effect and contribute to LEED® credit 7.1 - Heat Island Effect: Non-Roof of the Sustainable Sites section.

Always refer to the latest USGBC documentation for full details about credits and certification requirements
*Colors with an SRI of 51 or higher