When heat waves hit, people start looking for anything that might lower the temperature. One solution is right beneath our feet: pavement. Think about how hot the soles of your shoes can get when you’re walking on dark pavement or asphalt. A hot street isn’t just hot to touch—it also raises the surrounding air temperature. Research shows that building lighter-colored, more reflective roads has the potential to lower air temperatures by more than 2.5 degrees Fahrenheit (1.4 C) and, in the process, reduce the frequency of heat waves by 41% across U.S. cities. But reflective surfaces have to be used…

This episode of the BS* + Beer show features former GBA editor Martin Holladay, along with several of our regular audience members and returning guests Kyle Macht and Carl Seville discussing Martin’s book, Musings of an Energy Nerd. There’s talk of the drawbacks of Passive House certification, the move toward renewable energy, the urgency of the climate crisis, the “fatal flaw” of the net-zero energy movement, the feasibility of carbon-negative builds, vapor barriers (of course!), and the importance of loving your house design. Enjoy the show! [embedded content] Join us on September 2 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. EST for…