Effect of high-albedo materials on pedestrian thermal comfort in urban canyons

Extensive use of high-albedo materials has been advocated as a means of mitigating the urban heat island, especially in warm-climate cities. The implicit assumptions of this strategy are that by lowering canopy layer air temperature, cities will enjoy a) reduced air conditioning loads in buildings and b) improved thermal comfort for pedestrians in outdoor urban spaces. The second of these assumptions is examined here by means of computer modelling, in a two-stage approach whereby thermal comfort (represented by the Index of Thermal Stress) is modelled using as input detailed microclimate simulated by a canyon model (CAT). The analysis suggests that although use of high-albedo materials in canyon surfaces may lower air temperature, the reduction is not enough to offset increased radiant loads. As a result, pedestrian thermal comfort may in fact be compromised.