Cities, where the urban heat island effect amplifies the impact of global climate change, are going to heat up in the coming decades. If greenhouse gas emissions continue on their current path, the average number of days that feel hotter than 100 degrees in the U.S. will more than double by 2050, according to a recent study.
Many cities around the world are taking action to keep cooler as temperatures rise. Some of the most common strategies are cool streets, cool roofs, and a broader urban tree canopy.
For example, Melbourne is mapping street trees and embarking on massive tree-planting efforts. The Australian city plans to double its canopy cover by 2040.
New York City has coated more than 10 million sf of rooftops with a white, reflective coating over the last decade. In Dallas, an initiative mapped areas that were hottest because of a lack of trees, and then planted trees in these areas along key pedestrian routes such as the paths that children take to school.
Tokyo has coated miles of streets with reflective pavements. Other cities have tested pavement that allows grass to grow through it.
Related Stories
Codes and Standards | Apr 18, 2022
Dept. of Energy has RFI on funding cost-effective updated energy codes implementation
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Building Technologies Office (BTO) has issued a request for information regarding funding cost-effective implementation of updated building energy codes.
Legislation | Apr 14, 2022
Defense Dept. building largest 3D-printed structures in Western Hemisphere
The U.S. Department of Defense is constructing three barracks at the Camp Swift Training Center in Bastrop, Texas that will each be the largest 3D-printed structures in the Americas.
Wood | Apr 13, 2022
Mass timber: Multifamily’s next big building system
Mass timber construction experts offer advice on how to use prefabricated wood systems to help you reach for the heights with your next apartment or condominium project.
Codes and Standards | Apr 13, 2022
LEED multifamily properties fetch higher rents and sales premiums
LEED-certified multifamily properties consistently receive higher rents than non-certified rental complexes, according to a Cushman & Wakefield study of two decades of data on Class A multifamily assets with 50 units or more.
Legislation | Apr 11, 2022
Dept. of Energy releases RFI for K-12 schools energy upgrade program
The U.S. Dept. of Energy (DOE) released a Request for Information (RFI) to help decide how best to spend $500 million from the recently passed federal infrastructure law for K-12 public school energy upgrades.
Codes and Standards | Apr 8, 2022
Dept. of Energy boosts energy efficiency standards for federal buildings
The Department of Energy’s recently released new energy efficiency standards for federal buildings.
Codes and Standards | Apr 7, 2022
Uptake of low-carbon materials expected to get a boost from federal building plan
Low-carbon materials will get a sizeable boost via purchases through a federal $3.4 billion building plan to modernize U.S. border crossings.
Codes and Standards | Apr 6, 2022
ABC and AFSP form partnership on mental health and suicide prevention in construction
Associated Builders and Contractors and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention recently formed a partnership to address mental health and suicide prevention in the U.S. construction industry.
Codes and Standards | Apr 5, 2022
New York City chooses 20 firms for architectural design services on future public building projects
The New York City Department of Design and Construction (DDC) has contracted with 20 firms to provide architectural design services for the city’s future public buildings projects under the latest round of DDC’s Project Excellence Program.
Codes and Standards | Apr 4, 2022
Construction of industrial space continues robust growth
Construction and development of new industrial space in the U.S. remains robust, with all signs pointing to another big year in this market segment