Reducing heat absorbed from pavements is more difficult. The pavement surface should be reflective to reduce energy absorption while providing a tough, durable surface. The reflectivity should not reduce a driver's ability to locate and identify objects in the roadway. Improved roadway surfaces are under investigation. Shading buildings helps reduce their surface temperature and the transpiration of vegetation helps actually lower air temperature.
Green spaces offer a pleasant respite from the heat and actually help cool the area.
Back to Top 4. He added that you probably will not recover the cost of the siding through energy savings within the lifetime of the house or the siding. Caulk and seal any large cracks or holes in the walls. Probably the most effective improvement you can make would be to blow insulation into the wall cavity. Most older homes that are candidates for new siding were built during a period when insulation was not placed in walls.