California to reduce carbon emissions by... banning black cars?!
In a move that will likely get California's consumers in a huff, impending legislation may soon restrict the paint color options for Golden State residents looking for their next new vehicle. The specific colors that are currently on the chopping block are all dark hues, with the worst offender seemingly the most innocuous color you could think of: Black. What could California possibly have against these colors, you ask? Apparently, the California Air Resources Board figures that the climate control systems of dark colored cars need to work harder than their lighter siblings – especially after sitting in the sun for a few hours. Anyone living in a hot, sunny climate will tell you that this assumption is accurate, of course. In fact, legislation already exists for buildings that has proven successful at reducing the energy consumption of skyscrapers.
So, what's the crux of the problem... can't paint suppliers just come up with new, less heat-absorbent dark paints? According to Ward's, suppliers have reportedly been testing their pigments and processes to see if it's possible to meet CARB's proposed mandate of 20% solar reflectivity by 2016 with a phase-in period starting in 2012, and things aren't looking good. Apparently, when the proper pigments and chemicals are added to black paint, the resulting color is currently being referred to as "mud-puddle brown." That doesn't sound very attractive, now does it? Windshields, backlights and sunroofs are also slated to get reflective coatings starting in 2012.
When we first heard of this issue, an internal debate immediately began as to whether this might be an elaborate early April Fool's joke, but it isn't. Read through CARB's complete Cool Cars Standards and Test Procedures here (PDF link) for more. Thanks for the tip, Joaquin!
[Source: CARB (PDF link); Wards | Photo: 7mary3]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 12)
Franz 3:03PM (3/25/2009)
What the hell's wrong with California?
Reply
fixitfixitstop 3:08PM (3/25/2009)
I could make a list, but I don't have all week.
havoc 3:22PM (3/25/2009)
are you serious? really? dark colored cars are offensive to CARB?
i have used the air conditioning in my car about 10 times in 2 years, the fact that it is black actually helps it to be WARM when i get in.
time to go find all those city, county, state and fed cars/trucks that aren't silver and shiny.
this just in, CARB will now require all paved surfaces to be non-black, asphalt belaching industry skyrockets, economic down-turn ends
KeatMP 3:27PM (3/25/2009)
I've always thought of California as the most wacked out state in the country...but his confirms it.
Patrick 3:59PM (3/25/2009)
My hippie state government is going overboard with this stuff. What's next, we have to filter our own pee and put it back into our house's water inlet?
Eric 4:04PM (3/25/2009)
Isn't freedom great?
Eric Bandholz 5:05PM (3/25/2009)
Ah, government at it's finest. I'm pretty sure the black asphalt surface area is far greater than the surface area of all the cars put together.
MKIV 5:11PM (3/25/2009)
Effective immediately, I'm running my AC 100% of the time. Even in the morning when it's 32 outside and winter. I'll just put a jacket on to regulate my body temperature.
why not the LS2LS7? 5:16PM (3/25/2009)
Eric Bandholz:
The question of what the color the asphalt is is moot. The issue here is if the car heats up, someone turns on the A/C to cool it down. No one expends energy cooling the road surface.
montoym 6:26PM (3/25/2009)
@ LS2LS7:
Don't be so sure. I bet that black asphalt helps with the whole Urban Heat Island effect. That extra heat will do nothing to reduce the use of those air conditioners in cars. In addition to the car itself soaking up more heat, having that extra ambient heat is surely not helpful either.
Believe me, they'll find a way to put a little of the blame on everything.
Matt 2:44AM (3/26/2009)
Shouldn't this story have been run on 1st April? Next you will be told how pieces of toilet paper to use when wiping... I already filter my own pee lol
Isn't the temperature supposed to reach 60 degrees (Celcius) with 10 mins or something on a sunny day? That's what they say when people leave their dogs in the car... I seriously doubt there is any difference in temperature between a, say, blue car, and said black car that has been sitting in the sun for 3 hours. Leaving the windows down 1 cm to let some hot air out will make much more difference than the colour.
Reader 12:41PM (3/26/2009)
'why not the LS2LS7?', montoym is correct about the extra heating that the asphalt would cause. If the asphalt was silver or white, it would reflect a much more significant amount of the sun's radiation while still in short-wave form. When asphalt absorbs the short-wave radiation from the sun it is either going to be conducted, convected, or radiated back out, but even if it is radiated it will be in a long-wave form (which is what is boning us).
This whole issue is just straight up stupid.
Mike P. 1:06PM (3/26/2009)
Re: the "asphalt is black and absorbs heat, too" argument:
Can you imagine the road glare from white or silver asphalt? Really, asphalt has to be black or at least dark grey, and not too shiny.
cbd 9:02PM (3/26/2009)
This is absolutely ridiculous. Black may absorb heat but it also radiates that latent heat at night. The net gain is zero as is with reflective materials. The A/C is not used anymore than any other car in the hot weather. Now here's a conundrum. Reflected heat causes lower atmospheric heating, this in turn causes the inversion layer to become more active as more energy is collected in the CO2 and inversion gasses. As a result it becomes worse. So the question is, is Black worse than Reflective materials ? NO. Black is better since it slowly releases the heat opposed to creating hot spots!
My god, There are some crazies in CA and they're going to save us by eroding our rights. F$#k them. Idiots!
Sektor 9:41AM (3/27/2009)
It's "People's Republic of California".
MT 2:14AM (3/29/2009)
####ing tyrants.
-MT
modernlove 1:36AM (4/01/2009)
DEMOCRATS- there's your answer.
Rob 3:03PM (3/25/2009)
I think this is kind of a neat idea. Much more efficient at reducing the load of an A/C system versus producing a bunch of solar cells on the roof like the stupid new Prius.
PS: Hybrids are bad for the environment. Older cars are best.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ooN9INJxxy4
Reply
Engo P 3:07PM (3/25/2009)
Neat? Really? What's next after banning paint color? No more cars period?
This is beyond ridiculous.
Epyx 3:15PM (3/25/2009)
Dude, are you that Subaru SVX guy?