The rooftop cooling potentials of evaporative cooling porous tiles and high reflective coatings in hot and humid regions

Abstract

Altering the reflectivity and permeability of surfaces in high-density cities is a key approach to mitigate rising urban heat islands. High Reflectance Coatings (HRC) and Evaporative Cooling Porous Tiles (ECPT) offer potential solutions for urban cooling. However, previous studies have mainly focused on roof surface temperatures, neglecting changes in near-roof air temperature. ECPT, a new permeable material, is mostly used in urban pavements and ignoring the underutilized rooftops, with limited research on its cooling effects in these settings. Therefore, this study investigates the impact of HRC and ECPT on near-roof air temperatures in the Pearl River Delta through observational experiments under various weather conditions. The results show that both HRC and ECPT significantly reduce near-roof air temperatures, but their effectiveness decreases above 1.8 m. In rainy conditions, these strategies are less effective due to their dependence on solar radiation. HRC works by reflecting short-wave radiation, while ECPT cools by evaporation. A key advantage of ECPT is its ability to be actively watered, quickly reducing temperatures by 2.14 °C at 0.3 m. This research is valuable for developing urban cooling strategies in high-density areas during extreme temperature conditions.