CARB adopts reflective glass rule to keep cars cooler
Anyone that has ever climbed into a car on a sunny day is familiar with the greenhouse effect. The interior of the car is typically much hotter than the ambient temperatures outside, sometimes as much 20-30 degrees F more. As a result, drivers (unless they have the new 2010 Prius with solar roof option) often crank up the air conditioning to make the interior bearable, a habit that puts more load on the engine and increases fuel consumption. The California Air Resources Board wants to address this situation with a new regulation. Starting in 2012, new vehicles will have to incorporate glass that reflects 33 percent more infra-red radiation away from the car and keeps the interior cooler. It's estimated that the changes will result in a 700,000 ton reduction in greenhouse gas emissions in California annually by 2020. The standard, which will be implemented in two steps in 2012 and 2016, is expected to add $70 and $250 respectively to the cost of the car.
[Source: California Air Resources Board]
California adopts first-in-nation approach to keep cars cooler
New standards will block sun's heat-producing rays through windows
SACRAMENTO- Today, the California Air Resources Board adopted a regulation that will require new cars sold in California, starting in 2012, to have windows that reflect or absorb heat-producing rays from the sun. This will help keep cars cooler, increase their fuel efficiency and reduce global warming pollution.
Cooler cars mean less air conditioning thereby increasing fuel efficiency and preventing about 700,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide from entering the atmosphere in 2020 - roughly the equivalent of taking 140,000 cars off the road for a year.
"This is a common-sense and cost-effective measure that will help cool the cars we drive and fight global warming," said ARB ChairmanMary D. Nichols. "It represents the kind of innovative thinking we need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from our vehicles and steer our economy toward a low-carbon future.
A variety of new and currently available approaches will be used to achieve the standards including adding chemicals to the glass during manufacturing to absorb the sun's energy and using laminated glass coated with invisible microscopic specks of metal to reflect it. Windshields that comply with the standard will continue to offer full visibility.
Compared to cars currently in showrooms, windows that comply with the standard will block 33 percent more heat-producing rays from the sun. This will cool the vehicle's interior by approximately 14 degrees Fahrenheit for a car and 12 degrees Fahrenheit for a pickup or SUV. Lower temperatures require less use of air conditioning, both upon starting a car parked in the sun and while driving in sunny conditions.
Other benefits include a cooler interior upon entering the car, less time for the air conditioning to reach a comfortable temperature, and reduced fading of upholstery and cracking of the dashboard.
The regulation has two steps. Over a three-year period starting in 2012 windows in new cars sold in California must prevent 45 percent of the sun's total heat-producing energy from entering the car, with the windshield rejecting at least 50 percent of the sun's energy.
In 2016 car manufacturers will be required to install windows in new cars sold in California that prevent at least 60 percent of the sun's heat-producing rays from entering the cars interior, or propose alternative technologies to achieve an equivalent result.
Costs for the windows are expected to average $70 for the 2012 standard, and about $250 for the 2016 standard, with annual savings in gas of $16 and $20 respectively. Costs would be recouped over a five to twelve year period.
This initiative follows on the heels of a series of other measures adopted by the Board under AB 32 (Núñez, 2006), California's pioneering climate change legislation, to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from vehicles. These include a standard for cleaner lower-carbon vehicle fuels, and a regulation to ensure tire pressure is checked at smog check, oil change and other maintenance facilities.
California is also awaiting approval of a waiver from the federal government to enforce standards under its Clean Car Law that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions 30 percent from vehicles over the next seven years.
The Air Resources Board is a department of the California Environmental Protection Agency. ARB's mission is to promote and protect public health, welfare, and ecological resources through effective reduction of air pollutants while recognizing and considering effects on the economy. The ARB oversees all air pollution control efforts in California to attain and maintain health based air quality standards.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
JeremyZ 2:19PM (6/26/2009)
This is somewhat funny since I think it's illegal to have front window tints in California now. I bought a car with an illegal metal oxide front "tint" that only blocks UV; it's maybe a 1% visible light tint and is basically impossible to see. The tint worked like magic at keeping my car cool. I had to get my windshield replaced recently because of a crack. I really miss the "tint" in Texas (where I now live). My aluminum shifter knob is like 100000 Kelvins during the summer now. When I had the illegal "tint", it never got very hot.
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Gordio 3:58PM (6/26/2009)
Tinting front windows being illegal is only for afermarket tinting. The reason is safety. When you tint a window the film might prevent the glass from shattering, so in a side crash, the window might kill you from concussion.
luxury cars come with the front window tinted all the time.
Kumar 4:07PM (6/26/2009)
Some states don't allow any front window tint (aftermarket), but you can't buy a car with much front window tint. State by state rules are easy to find on the internets.
Too dark a front window tint and you won't be able to see jack at night....but at least your car looks pretty cool.
It will be interesting to see if this goes mainstream....love the idea of a cooler car on days like today...90 and sunny in Indiana.
Bill Max 2:24PM (6/26/2009)
That's right. The sunlight pumps lots of energy (up to 2.5kW, it's like you turned on 2 or 3 household heater inside your car) into interior of passenger vehicle.
We can expect much cooler glasses in next 5 to 10 years thanks to scientists or inventors whichever you like to call them.
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EVan 2:44PM (6/26/2009)
We should get some of that stuff for the Earth's ionosphere. Do they make it in bulk?
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GenKhan2 3:28PM (6/26/2009)
I predict the AC will be turned on about 5 seconds slower with the special glass installed on cars. It's summer kids. The AC gets used reguardless.
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win39 7:27PM (6/26/2009)
It may get turned on, but the compressor will start cycling off and on much sooner and the on part will be much shorter.
karl 3:56PM (6/26/2009)
The new windshields will now melt buildings, set tree's on fire. It's going to be crazy!
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Larry Miller 10:49PM (6/26/2009)
Oh, the humanity!
Gordio 4:00PM (6/26/2009)
Anyone who owns a honda fit would appreciate this : )
My car gets so hot, evn tho my cousin's black exterior black interior scion tC doesn't get anywhere near. Fit's get so hot that when driving on a hot day you must keep the AC on, b/c the sun light heats the car very rapidly.
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John Rowell 4:09PM (6/26/2009)
Lower greenhouse gas emissions, that's good ... but getting into a car in the summer that's not quite so unbearably hot, now that's *really* good!
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Kumar 4:11PM (6/26/2009)
The only thing I can think of that may be a problem is electronic reception within the vehicle if the metallic particles within the glass cause interference.
This could possibly affect radios (antennas on glass), gps, electronic tollway devices, cell phones. I'm not an electromagnetic rocket style scientist, just remember reading about issues with some metallic films.
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DasBoese 4:48PM (6/26/2009)
Well, we could probably use nukes to trigger a volcanic eruption or two, that's basically the same.
The answer to global warming: Nuclear Winter!
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