GuardTop Technologies - CoolSeal Solar-Reflective Pavement Coating

Phoenix, Arizona, United States · 2020 · GuardTop Technologies, in collaboration with the City of Phoenix and Arizona State University.

CoolSeal has demonstrated that existing streets can be upgraded into climate-adaptive infrastructure without major reconstruction. The Phoenix deployment helped prove that reflective pavement treatments can be implemented at neighborhood and city scales while generating valuable evidence about performance, durability, and urban heat mitigation. The technology provides cities with an additional tool for reducing heat accumulation from extensive paved surfaces, especially in hot-arid environments. Beyond temperature reduction, the project has contributed to a broader shift in urban climate adaptation thinking: treating roads and public infrastructure not only as transport assets, but also as part of a city’s heat resilience system. The collaboration between GuardTop, Phoenix, and Arizona State University has created one of the most visible real-world demonstrations of reflective pavement technology and informed future approaches to combining materials innovation with urban greening and cooling strategies.

Highlight

Transforming existing asphalt roads into heat-adaptive infrastructure through reflective pavement technology.

Extended description

Cities are increasingly exposed to extreme heat as climate change intensifies heatwaves and urban areas continue to expand. Asphalt roads, parking areas, and other dark surfaces contribute to urban heat accumulation because they absorb large amounts of solar radiation and release stored heat over time.

CoolSeal®, developed by GuardTop Technologies, is a solar-reflective asphalt sealcoat designed to address this challenge by transforming conventional pavement into a more reflective surface. Unlike traditional dark asphalt coatings, CoolSeal uses a lighter-colored, high-reflectance formulation that reflects more incoming sunlight and reduces daytime heat absorption. The product is applied directly onto existing asphalt using conventional pavement maintenance practices, allowing cities to improve heat resilience without replacing road infrastructure.

The technology was tested at large scale through the City of Phoenix Cool Pavement Program, launched in partnership with Arizona State University. Beginning in 2020, Phoenix applied CoolSeal pavement treatments across selected neighborhoods to evaluate performance, durability, and potential contributions to urban heat mitigation. ASU researchers monitored surface temperatures, subsurface heat storage, and thermal conditions to understand both benefits and trade-offs.

CoolSeal works by increasing solar reflectance: treated surfaces reflect a larger share of incoming solar energy compared with conventional asphalt. This reduces pavement surface temperatures during hot periods and decreases the amount of heat stored in road materials. The technology can be applied to streets, parking areas, and other asphalt surfaces, making it particularly relevant for cities where large paved areas contribute to heat exposure.

The Phoenix deployment has demonstrated how material innovation can become part of broader urban heat adaptation strategies. However, reflective pavement is most effective when combined with complementary measures such as shade, vegetation, and climate-sensitive street design. Research has also highlighted the importance of considering pedestrian thermal comfort, since increased reflectivity can affect radiant heat exposure in some contexts.

Demonstrated metrics

Real impact

CoolSeal has demonstrated that existing streets can be upgraded into climate-adaptive infrastructure without major reconstruction. The Phoenix deployment helped prove that reflective pavement treatments can be implemented at neighborhood and city scales while generating valuable evidence about performance, durability, and urban heat mitigation.

The technology provides cities with an additional tool for reducing heat accumulation from extensive paved surfaces, especially in hot-arid environments. Beyond temperature reduction, the project has contributed to a broader shift in urban climate adaptation thinking: treating roads and public infrastructure not only as transport assets, but also as part of a city’s heat resilience system.

The collaboration between GuardTop, Phoenix, and Arizona State University has created one of the most visible real-world demonstrations of reflective pavement technology and informed future approaches to combining materials innovation with urban greening and cooling strategies.

Implementation location & date

Phoenix, Arizona, USA. CoolSeal® was implemented through the City of Phoenix Cool Pavement Program beginning in 2020, with continued expansion and evaluation throughout the 2020s.

Similar cases elsewhere

Similar deployments include Life Heatland in Spain and DuraShield Solar Reflective pavement in Irvine, California, USA.

Sources