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 3 of 12)
simracer 3:10PM (3/25/2009)
This should serve as sufficient notice that if you haven't left California by now, you should at your earliest possible convenience. And if you're the last one out, please turn out the lights.
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havoc 3:27PM (3/25/2009)
screw that i'm leaving the lights on... and the heat on full blast, the stove on, the oven on broil, while burning wood in the fireplace. heck, i'm even going to plug in all the extra nightlights and leave my computer on.
whats next? CARB decides that fumes from, markers are detrimental as well?
jbuers 3:45PM (3/25/2009)
I've been looking for jobs everywhere else in the country that isn't bordering an ocean...
Why don't we do a case study of Japan? I'd wager a guess that close to 90% of the cars on the road are white and Tokyo's smog makes LA's smog look marginal.
I know what this really is... it's RACISM!! Always tryin' to keep the black van down...
CMOS 4:53PM (3/25/2009)
@jbuers
Good thing you aren't making a wager, because you would lose. Why not actually look up information instead of blindly betting that Tokyo is more polluted than LA?
In fact according to Global Quality of Living City Rankings 2007 for overall Health and Sanitation: Tokyo ranks #53, while Los Angeles ranks #89
For a city that vastly outnumbers Los Angeles by over 3 million people, it's pretty sad that Tokyo outranks it by a pretty large margin.
Source: http://www.finfacts.com/irelandbusinessnews/publish/article_10009626.shtml
Lucas 3:09PM (3/25/2009)
I'm a tree rugger and I think this is retarded.
They are WAY more efficient ways to reduce emissions than banning dark colored cars.
Gimme a f'ing break.
How about banning cattle ranches???
Leave us drives alone!!!
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Metar 4:30PM (3/25/2009)
It's retarded. On the cold days, a black car might save you a bit of heating. On a hot day? It won't matter what car you drive. I can attest, as a resident of a sunny country, that cars become ovens, no matter what colour, as soon as the winter ends.
We used to have a black Citroen ZX. It was cooking-hot.
Then we switched to a white Peugeot 306 - and guess what? It was still just as hot.
Now we have a red Golf, and we still have to open the doors a minute before we can even consider entering the car, and still have to watch for the hot seatbelts.
If it's a hot enough day, car-colour won't change a thing.
BoneHeadOtto 6:22PM (3/25/2009)
This is freakin stupid. I have owned both black and white cars. They all get too hot in the summer there is no difference. They only way car color would make a difference would be if there were not enough insulation in the car doors to block out the heat. So lets ban cheap cars without insulation.
And what do they think happens to that light that relfects off a white car? It generates heat elsewhere. They would be better to ban non-covered parking.
Also tinted windows make the most difference. They should mandate dark tint on all windows and fine those who dont have tinted windows.
Tourian 6:55PM (3/25/2009)
I agree, I live in the deep south and I've been in the car business for years. I've never jumped in a light colored car on a hot summer day and said, "Ahhh, I'm so glad this car is ivory. Feels great in here."
No, they are all hot as hell inside. Plus, many light color cars have dark interiors so you are usually planting your body on a superheated black/charcoal gray leather/cloth and that's hot. Plus all cars have to have untinted windshields and that lets in all the sunlight that heats things up!
neutralgear 3:10PM (3/25/2009)
I hate living in this state (CA)
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Rawker 4:20PM (3/25/2009)
im with you, this is stupid.
do people like having the state tell them what color car to drive?
Unknown 4:38PM (3/25/2009)
Then by all means, please move.
neutralgear 4:37PM (3/25/2009)
haha, I wouldn't put it past them. They already give people fix it tickets for having cars that are "equipped for illegal street racing" based on "officer's judgment" at that moment.
rob 3:14PM (3/25/2009)
instead, why dont they allow darker window tinting, which, anybody with a tint will agree, keeps the cars cooler
annnnd that would slightly help the local economy via all the tint shops
2 problems solved.... i should get paid for this
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Joe K. 3:49PM (3/25/2009)
Covered Roadways would keep the sun off the paint... Maybe that's next?
boofies 3:14PM (3/25/2009)
you gotta be kidding CA.
what if i want to own a black car and not use my A/C?
everyone is so eager to make a law affecting someone else before they even ask themselves if they could reduce their own impact by being a little less coddled.
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Alex 3:14PM (3/25/2009)
That is my favorite color on SOME cars but I live in MD so does not bother me. And what is Jay Leno going to do?
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Sean Flanagan 3:15PM (3/25/2009)
You can have it in any color, as long as it's not black.
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Joel 9:59PM (3/25/2009)
you made my day!
Luis 3:16PM (3/25/2009)
To Rob above. Now you're posting your Prius-hating on here. Give it a rest. A 15 year old Civic still emits more toxins than a new Civic and needs to be replaced. What? You think replacing parts til the wheels fall off then replacing the wheels is exactly environmentally sound? Those parts need to be made too. You want to drive a rusty jalopy then do it, but quit your hating.
As for the content of THIS story - lining the roofs of cars with solar arrays may help by absorbing some of the sun's energy operating fans to keep the interior cool. I think this is a great idea. Maybe this can be used to offset the color of the car.
I think a better option would be to impose a fee ($100?) on dark cars with the funds used to build more wind plants or increase the network of plug-in stations for PHEVs.
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Mazda FTW! 3:19PM (3/25/2009)
You're kdding right? I have the right to buy a dark coloured car (and I did...I own a gorgeous Indigo Blue car) without being singled out for extra tax.