PHOENIX, January 18, 2011/PRNewswire/ -- Emerald Cities(TM) Paves the Way Emerald Cities(TM) USA Ltd. (div. of Emerald Cities(TM) International Ltd.) has just resurfaced the world's first solar reflective "Green" asphalt parking lot to demonstrate the importance of "Cool Pavement" addressing Urban Heat Island in the cities (see photos at http://www.emeraldcoolpavements.com/pressrelease/Installation.pdf). This 24,000 sq.ft. parking lot was donated to Mayor Gordon's Phoenix Recovery Zone at the Duffy Charter School where asphalt temperatures soared to 200 degrees (F) last summer in Arizona. The importance of "Cool Pavement" in a school setting cannot be overstated. Heat radiated from asphalt remains between 1-4 feet and is a "danger zone" where children play during recess because of the risk of heat stroke. This is an Emerald Cities "Cool Schools" project. 100 Cities by 2012 Solar reflective color now plays a significant role in protecting the environment. According to Steven Chu (Obama's Secretary of Energy), "Changing surface colors in 100 of the world's largest cities could save as much as 44 billion tons of carbon dioxide. This is equivalent to the rise in global carbon emissions anticipated by 2020." With 2010 now the hottest year on record, NASA predicts a 2- 6 degree rise in the next few years will result in altered rainfall, storms, coastal floods, melting glaciers, and droughts contributing to the increase in infectious diseases.
