Looking hot! Black cars make streets nearly 4°C warmer

A recent University study has just provided some very interesting data for owners of black cars and people who feel the heat.

The study, conducted by the University of Lisbon, has revealed that the color of parked cars can affect urban temperatures.

During the course of the study, it was found that black cars raised nearby air temperatures by up to 3.8 degrees.

But the finding raises a bigger question – how much of an overlooked factor in rising urban heat is the color of cars?

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University of Lisbon conducts fascinating study

Have you ever looked out at black cars and wondered what effect the color might be having on the environment?

In all fairness, it hasn’t exactly been a burning question on our minds, either.

But it might just be about to become a much bigger question for car owners across the world.

And it is all because of a University study that has recently been conducted.

The study in question has been conducted by the University of Lisbon – and it is fascinating.

The University conducted the study in order to examine and analyze the urban heat island effect.

This effect occurs when cities, filled with heat-absorbing surfaces like asphalt and buildings, become significantly warmer than surrounding rural areas.

Cars, especially their materials and colors, contribute additional heat to the local environment.

Owners of black cars – look away now

 With around 70 percent of Europeans living in cities and heatwaves becoming more frequent, identifying all potential factors of urban heating has become a public health and policy priority.

And the results of the study show that owners of black cars could, unwittingly, be contributing to the problem.

According to the data, black cars increase the temperature around them by 3.8 degrees, on average.

In addition, they only reflect about 5-10 percent of all sunlight on average

By contrast, white-colored cars reflected, on average, between 75-85 percent of sunlight.

Marcia Matias, from the University of Lisbon, had this to say about the study.

“Now picture thousands of cars parked across a city, each one acting like a little heat source or a heat shield. Their colour can actually shift how hot the streets feel.”

The reason this study is so relevant is that climate change is becoming an ever-pressing issue.

European cities, in particular, are starting to suffer more extreme heat spells compared to before.

Perhaps changing the color of your car might go a small way to helping alleviate the extremes of urban weather.