Mapo-gu to coat rooftops of 12 public facilities with heat-reflective paint amid heat wave

Mapo-gu in Seoul announced Monday it will apply heat-reflective paint to the rooftops of 12 public facilities, including two heat-relief shelters, three public daycare centers and seven senior centers.

The district applied to the Seoul Metropolitan Government's public facility heat-reflective paint support project on behalf of all 12 sites, and all were selected for funding. The full construction cost will be covered by city funds.

The 12 sites are two heat-relief shelters — Mangwon 1-dong Community Service Center and Mapo Disability Welfare Center — three public daycare centers — Yeonnam, Yonggang and Seogang — and seven senior centers: Gongdeok 1-dong, Keundeok, Daeheung Jungang, Hapjeong, Mangwon 2-dong 1, Yeondong and Saetter.

Contractors selected by the Seoul Metropolitan Government will carry out the work in stages starting this month, following on-site measurements. Waterproof coating will also be applied where site conditions require it.

Heat-reflective paint is a functional coating that reflects sunlight to reduce heat entering a building. According to Mapo-gu, a pilot evaluation the city conducted on Seoul Housing & Communities Corporation apartment buildings found that rooftop surface temperatures fell by up to 9.2 degrees Celsius after application, while indoor temperatures dropped by about 1.8 degrees. Summer cooling energy consumption decreased by an average of 26.4 percent.

Mapo-gu Mayor Yoo Dong-gyun said he hoped the measure would help vulnerable residents "stay comfortable and safe through the summer heat."