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URBAN HEAT ISLANDS
In 2024, a Dutch sports field stored rainwater beneath artificial turf, cutting surface temperatures by nearly 50% during summer testsResearchers developed a synthetic turf with a hidden water layer for cooling. This system significantly reduced surface temperatures compar...
Scientists tested reflective pavement through an Australian summer, and the road surface stayed cooler, but midday radiant heat increased above itA western Sydney trial revealed reflective roads cool surfaces but raise pedestrian temperatures. This study tracked the trade-off over a y...
Phoenix swapped black asphalt for a reflective road coating; noon surface heat fell 12°F, but pedestrians faced higher radiant heatIn an effort to lower urban heat, Phoenix tested innovative reflective pavement coatings on its roads, revealing that treated asphalt kept ...
In 2024, Phoenix City Council planned to plant over 27,000 new trees and build 550 new shade structures under a $60 million plan to combat extreme temperaturesIn 2024, Phoenix City Council planned to plant over 27,000 new trees and build 550 new shade structures under a $60 million plan to combat ...
Argonne modeled Chicago’s August 2021 heatwave with different roof types; white roofs lowered air temperature by nearly 2°C and cooling energy use by 16.6%Transforming the rooftops of Chicago into cooler surfaces has led to a notable reduction in city temperatures. The use of white cool roofs ...
In 1992, deadly category 5 Hurricane Andrew caused massive destructions in Florida, 34 years later as rising sea level flooding threatens nearly 40 per cent of U.S. population, Miami, other areas are showing how to be ready for doomsdayAs global average temperatures climb because of fossil fuel emissions, so do sea levels, making low-lying coastal cities vulnerable to floo...
Philadelphia painted black pavement with a light-coloured coating to fight extreme heat. A year later, researchers found one clear differenceTo tackle urban heat island effects, Philadelphia is trialing cool pavement solutions. In Hunting Park, a reflective light-colored coating ...
A reflective roof coating reduced peak roof temperature by 14.1°C and indoor temperature by 2.4°C; later research found evaporative cooling could add further benefitsInnovative roofing technologies are changing the game for building temperature regulation. By utilizing white reflective coatings, sunlight...
Over 2 years, across Miami-Dade, more than 9,000 trees reveal a hidden journey of heat: Mature canopies can pull temperatures down by 10°F, turning scorching streets into cooler urban spaces for residentsTrees offer significant cooling benefits to urban areas. FIU researchers found that tree canopy coverage can reduce temperatures by ten deg...
A cement-based paint that "sweats" water kept a model house more than 4.5°C cooler than conventional white paintInnovative researchers have unveiled a remarkable paint designed to keep buildings cooler by absorbing moisture. This advanced formula not ...
Morocco swapped scorching black asphalt for porous “sponge” pavement; the experimental surface ran up to 16°F cooler, offering cities a surprising new way to beat urban heatMorocco is testing permeable “sponge” pavement in selected urban areas of Marrakech and Agadir as cities look for ways to manage extreme he...
Austrian researchers 3D-printed porous ceramic cubes for passive cooling; one water-filled prototype cooled nearby air by nearly 7°C without electricityResearchers from Austria have created groundbreaking 3D-printed ceramic cubes designed for passive cooling applications. Utilizing the prin...
In 1995, a dormant volcano erupted and the lava, rocks and ash covered a Caribbean city; two years later it became the world’s only buried ghost capitalPlymouth, Montserrat's capital, was buried by volcanic deposits after Soufriere Hills erupted. The volcano's activity forced widespread eva...
In 2011, New York tried a simple way to beat peak summer heat by painting rooftops white; here’s how it helped cool citiesIn a proactive initiative starting in 2011, volunteers in New York City painted rooftops white to tackle the challenges of urban heat. This...
In 2019, scientists tested a diaper-like superabsorbent polymer in lab-made asphalt samples; the water-storing material cooled the specimens by up to 12°CResearchers from China have pioneered a groundbreaking asphalt composite integrated with superabsorbent polymers aimed at cooling city envi...
Rooftop rainwater could help cities stay cooler and cut heatwave days, study findsCollecting rainwater and spraying it on rooftops may cool cities during heatwaves. This system uses evaporative cooling to lower roof tempe...
Researchers replaced a bare roof with plants; green roof surfaces stayed 30 to 40°F cooler in summerGreen roofs cool surfaces by up to forty degrees Fahrenheit, reducing urban heat island effects. Evapotranspiration from plants cools build...
In 2010, a study suggested the coolest solution to global warming might also be the simplest; a fresh coat of white paint could help cool the planet: How white roofs may reduce urban heat and support climate action?In 2010, a study suggested the coolest solution to global warming might also be the simplest; a fresh coat of white paint could help cool t...
From 2007 to 2015, New York City planted one million trees across its five boroughs, a $400 million campaign to widen the shade canopy and cool streets baking under urban heatNew York City's MillionTreesNYC initiative planted one million trees between 2007 and 2015. This project aimed to cool neighborhoods and im...
Sleep deprived? Blame it on climate changeGlobal citizens lose seven nights of sleep annually due to warmer temperatures. Climate change directly causes about ten percent of this lo...