Heat-reflective paint applied in Gongneung 1-dong and Sanggye 2-dong, covering 2 welfare facilities and 26 climate-vulnerable households; rooftop temperatures drop up to 9.2 degrees Celsius, indoor temperatures fall about 1.8 degrees Celsius, and cooling energy use cut by an average of 26.4 percent
Seoul's Nowon-gu has established a "cool roof paint special district" in Gongneung 1-dong and Sanggye 2-dong to improve living conditions for residents vulnerable to extreme heat and reduce energy consumption, the district announced.
Both neighborhoods are densely packed with small, aging multi-unit residential buildings where poor ventilation between narrow alleyways leaves residents especially exposed to indoor heat stress in summer. The district selected the two areas as project sites to address heat-vulnerable housing conditions and ease the cooling cost burden on energy-poor households.
Heat-reflective paint — also known as cool roof coating — is a functional coating that blocks heat from entering buildings by reflecting sunlight and radiant heat. The method involves applying a white, high-reflectance coating to rooftops to reduce heat buildup in structures, and is widely recognized for its effectiveness in mitigating extreme heat and cutting cooling energy use.
The project got underway after Nowon-gu was selected in March for the Seoul Metropolitan Government's "cool roof paint special district" grant program, which the city launched for the first time this year.
The district promoted the program through mailings, text messages and banner postings, while using residential welfare data held by community centers to identify vulnerable households living on top floors. Staff conducted on-site visits and guided residents through the application process, completing cool roof paint installation for 26 climate-vulnerable households. Beyond the designated project sites, the coating was also applied to two local welfare facilities — Neulpyeonhan Jip and Dongcheon-ui Jip — bringing the total installation area to 2,802 square meters.
According to verification data from the Seoul Housing and Communities Corp. (SH), applying heat-reflective paint lowers rooftop surface temperatures by up to 9.2 degrees Celsius and indoor temperatures by about 1.8 degrees Celsius.
Summer cooling energy consumption also fell by up to 40.8 percent and an average of 26.4 percent, confirming the paint's effectiveness in reducing electricity bills.
The district plans to continuously analyze temperature changes and energy savings before and after installation, and to gradually expand heat-reflective paint support with a focus on areas most vulnerable to the climate crisis.
Nowon-gu is also expanding a range of other heat-mitigation infrastructure. Cooling fog systems — fine-mist sprayers that lower ambient temperatures — are being installed in phases through July at Choan Mountain's hydrangea garden, Hwarangdae Railway Park and Sanggye Central Market. Outdoor heat-relief shelters called "Haepiso" are set to open in July at Bulam Mountain's azalea garden and the Gyeongchun Line Forest Trail plaza. The district also plans to install additional shade structures — both canopy and design types — at parks, crosswalks and high-pedestrian corridors to keep expanding heat-response infrastructure that residents can feel directly.
"Extreme heat is a quintessential climate disaster that threatens the health and lives of our residents, which makes proactive support for vulnerable groups more important than anything," district mayor Oh Seung-rok said. "I hope this project plays a meaningful role in closing gaps in energy welfare and protecting those most at risk from extreme heat."
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