The California Air Resources Board (CARB, a division of California EPA) estimates this measure will remove almost 1 million tonnes of CO2 per year by 2020. The measure (09-41) approved last June 25, 2009 is now in a 15-day comment period on the draft regulation (i.e. the proposed law) which is expected to be phased-in with 2012 cars and fully functional by 2016.
With solar energy of roughly 600 watts falling on each square meter, we all know how hot the interior of a parked car be. The measure should reduce the temperature by more than 10 degrees (Fahrenheit) 2016 model year cars.
Under AB32, CARB is responsible for determining policies to achieve AB32 (reducing GHG to 1990 levels by 2020). A list of CARB's plans, by economic sector, is here; "Cool Cars" is under Transportation.
CARB issued a Scoping Plan in December 2008 and in addition identified numerous "discrete early action greenhouse gas reduction measures” - the lowest hanging fruit (more details). An example of "discrete early action" is ruling on do-it-yourself mobile air conditioning fluids, which took effect this past January 1.
What's not in "Cool Cars"?
Regulations, as I am learning, seem a bit like old-fashioned pin-ball machines. Ideas come and go, dates change and the actual path, like the pinball, can not be predicted.
The measure started as "Cool Paints", meaning the use of special paint coatings to increase the reflection of solar energy. Perhaps we'll see that in the future. For now, you can still buy a black car.
How to Participate http://www.arb.ca.gov/html/decisions.htm
Current Draft of Cool Cars
draft regulation
FAQs
http://www.arb.ca.gov/html/coolcarsfaq.pdf
ARB|CC|Cool-Cars
http://www.arb.ca.gov/cc/cool-cars/cool-cars.htmOther thoughts on regulations
http://envsissue.blogspot.com/2009/11/californias-cool-cars.html
From Dr. Marijke Bekken, the project leader at CARB...
ReplyDelete... actually, even with the cool paints proposal, black paint would be available. they currently have solar reflective [SR] black pigments down in the 20-30% reflective range, compared to carbon-black based black paints which typically reflect only about 5% of all the solar energy.
These dark SR colors continue to absorb the visible light, but reject a greater portion of the infrared light. So theoretically, you could make a SR black paint with nearly 50% reflectance. THis is comparable to today's gold or silver metallic colors. WHites are typically around 70%, although could theoretically be nearly 100%.
At its last included iteration, the requriement was calling for 20% SR so that the dark colors would be available. But these dark pigments are not necessarily validated for automotive use, and that process can take a few years.
And also this ...
One trend you may be observing is an increasing number of white or silver roofs. the roof is responsible for the vast majority of the solar heat gain through the paint, so this approach offers a lot of bang for the buck. you may see this included in the 2016MY vehicles when the performance option kicks in.