Much has been said the past week about a proposal from the California Air Resources Board that some excitable types say would ban black cars. The snap judgment ignores the real goal to decry an alleged erosion of freedom. It’s about saving fuel by reducing the amount that motorists use their air conditioning by requiring paint and glass to be more reflective. Black paint wouldn’t be banned by name, but it could be banned by nature.

The problem with that leap is that it ignored the revised draft regulations. The proposals for paint reflectivity have been dropped for now in favor of those for glazing, most of which emphasize the windshield’s ability to reflect solar output, which includes light across the invisible and visible spectrum. Side, rear and roof glass are also included, but not to the same extent. Most vehicles already come with tinted side and back glass and if they don’t many owners choose to have those windows tinted.

The reason for taking the singular approach is that the standards for glass are more easily met, while coating technologies can only meet the proposed benchmarks for light colors. Dark colors, most of which use carbon black to enhance the pigment, can’t. Mud puddle is the term used to describe dark colors that meet the proposed standard with current paint technology. Even if some car buyers suddenly pine for a ride painted like a UPS truck, it’s not a welcome proposition.

As for the science behind the idea of keeping vehicle interiors cooler to cut AC usage, CARB estimates that cutting the amount of time or effort it takes to cool hot car interiors could cut CO2 emissions by .8 million metric tons per year.

Of course doubts have been raised about just how effective this plan would really be. Two writers at The Truth About Cars site take issue here and here. Both writers raise valid points about whether the math of these proposals adds up to more than using a sledgehammer to kill ants. It’s not surprising that the board is being looked upon as exercising bureaucratic power for its own sake.

As for further insulating the cabin in an effort to cut how much the air conditioning has to work, what about polyurethane foam in the doors, roof pillars and roof? It’s a proven technology, and the material is already used in luxury cars to cut noise, vibration and harshness. Instead of force-feeding technological advancements for limited benefit, consumers might get cooler AND quieter car interiors.

As the outrage over banning black cars fades, the debate over the proposed glazing regulations won’t have the same ring of bureaucratic tyranny. CARB opens the issue up for official public comment May 11 for 45 days, although that doesn’t prevent you from dropping them a line.

The board considers the final proposal on June 25 in Sacramento.