Lighten Up Blog

Heat affects nearly every aspect of urban life. This forum is dedicated to better understanding how cooling cities down makes them healthier, happier, more prosperous, and more climate-friendly places to be.

Cool Pavements Explained in 2 Minutes

Posted by karen-smith-murphy on June 9, 2014

Dark surfaces absorb sunlight and heat. Reflective surfaces help bounce heat away from our cities. What works with roofs works with roads and parking lots. Lawrence Berkeley Lab and UC Davis researchers explain how cool pavements work to cool our cities and improve the health of the people living in urban areas.  Take a look.  Read More…

Senator Ben Cardin Introduces Cool Roofs Bill in the Senate!

Posted by karen-smith-murphy on June 5, 2014

Maryland Senator Ben Cardin recently introduced a bi-partisan bill that is sure to help bring down urban heat and create new jobs nationwide.  The Energy-Efficient Cool Roofs Act (S. 2388) was introduced on May 22, 2014 and has been referred to the Senate Finance Committee, of which Senator Cardin is a member.   From Senator Cardin’s  Read More…

Growing the Market for Energy Efficiency in South Africa

Posted by karen-smith-murphy on June 2, 2014

U.S. Department of Energy Launches Effort to Grow the Market for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy in South Africa WASHINGTON, D.C— The Department of Energy Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) launched a new initiative to grow a robust market for energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies in South Africa.  The initiative is  Read More…

GSEP Helps Mexico Identify Energy and Emission Savings from Cool Roofs

Posted by karen-smith-murphy on May 28, 2014

A national study involving 7 major cities covering each of Mexico’s 6 climate zones, found that cool roofs could help commercial and residential buildings reduce energy consumption by 7 to 18 percent.  The study also found that if cool roof technology were used in just three of the cities studied, it could result in the  Read More…

New GSEP Pilot Project to Cool Roofs in Jasdan India

Posted by karen-smith-murphy on May 27, 2014

Our cities are heating up just as incomes are rising and the cost of air conditioning units are dropping around the world.  This creates a vicious cycle that drives up energy demand, puts a strain on our infrastructure and pumps more carbon into our atmosphere.  It’s little wonder that cities are looking for cleaner, cooler,  Read More…