Urban Heat Island Mitigation

The urban heat island (UHI) effect occurs when urban areas are hotter than surrounding areas. This phenomenon is caused by a high concentration of dark, impervious surfaces such as roofs, walls, and roads combined with a lack of trees and green space. Tall buildings that block or slow air movement, known as urban canyons, contribute to the formation of heat islands, along with waste heat released by vehicles and air conditioning.

Heat islands are dangerous for our communities because they increase the risk of heat-related illness and death. They also make working outside uncomfortable or even dangerous and can decrease productivity and school performance. Heat islands also increase peak power demand because air conditioning systems must work harder to keep spaces cool, which makes power interruptions more likely and increases air pollution.

Studies show that low-income communities and communities of color are impacted more severely by UHIs than other neighborhoods. This is because less investment has been made in trees, parks, and infrastructure in these areas. Check out the below video by The Verge for an example of temperature disparity between neighborhoods in New York City.

Cool roofs and walls have an important role in combating UHIs. Due to their ability to reflect heat back into the atmosphere, installing reflective materials on buildings decreases the building’s surface temperature, as well as temperatures inside the building. This means that, compared to buildings with conventional roofs and walls, less air conditioning is needed to keep occupants comfortable and buildings without air conditioning stay cooler. Cool roofs and walls also contribute to increased solar reflectance (albedo) of a community, which can help decrease outdoor air temperatures.

The below video provides core instruction on the topics of urban heat islands, surface radiative properties, and cool roofs and cool exterior walls. The video is included in the Cool Surfaces Lesson Plan curriculum.

To view the video on YouTube or watch in full screen, click the YouTube logo at the bottom right of the video.

Knowledge Base

The Cool Surfaces Knowledge Base catalogues over 600 publications about urban heat islands, cool surfaces, and related topics, including peer reviewed research, government reports, case studies, and more.