Worldwide heat-related deaths are increasing as climate change causes more frequent, longer-lasting extreme heatwaves. Heat deaths are projected to increase by 370% if global warming continues at its current rate. This heating effect is more pronounced in dense cities because of the urban heat island effect. A retroreflector technology—based on prisms and reflective materials—can direct sunlight back into the sky and out of the urban canyon. Equipping building walls and roadways with these materials could reduce urban temperatures by up to 20°C. They can be made as coatings or sheets, and would be low-cost.
engineering.princeton.edu/news/2024/04/16/retro-reflectors-could-help-future-cities-keep-their-cool
www.anthropocenemagazine.org/2024/04/how-the-technology-in-reflective-signs-can-help-cool-cities/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=how-the-technology-in-reflective-signs-can-help-cool-cities