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Global Bioweather

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Mitigation

There are a number of steps that communities can take to lessen the impacts of heat islands. These "heat island reduction strategies" include:

* Installing cool or vegetated green roofs;

* Planting trees and vegetation; and

* Switching to cool paving materials.

The extent to which urban areas can benefit from heat island reduction strategies depends on several factors. Some of these factors, like prevailing weather patterns, geography, and pollution transported from up-wind regions, are largely beyond the influence of local policy.

However, factors such as land-use patterns, materials used in road and building construction, and the coverage of urban trees and vegetation can be directly affected by decision makers. This is where policies and programs to reduce the impacts of heat islands – and achieve related environmental and energy-savings goals – can be most effective.

Heat Island Mitigation with Trees and Vegetation

Increasing the cover of trees and vegetation in a city is a simple and effective way to reduce the urban heat island effect. Trees provide a wide range of other benefits, from increasing property value to reducing storm water runoff.

Shade trees also can make homes and buildings significantly more energy efficient. Scientists estimate that strategically planting trees and vegetation reduces cooling energy consumption by up to 25%. For many, this research comes as no surprise—trees have been used to cool homes for hundreds of years.

Source: US EPA

Index

Global Bioweather

Mitigation

Heat Island

Urban