As part of its continuing commitment to help state government cut operating costs and lessen its impact on the environment, the Department of General Services has announced that solar reflective colors, such as white, silver metallic or gold metallic, are now mandatory whenever a state agency or department acquires light-duty vehicles.

Solar reflective colors help keep vehicle interiors cooler which means the air conditioning system does not have to work as hard. That cuts fuel consumption and reduces climate changing emissions.

A study by the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory Heat Island Group found that vehicles with solar reflective exterior colors can reduce associated greenhouse gas emissions by as much as 0.3-0.8 percent per vehicle. The DGS Procurement Division now requires white as the default color on the state’s light-duty vehicle contracts.

Read the DGS Management Memo to state agencies.