Heat waves are the nation’s deadliest weather hazard, accounting for one-fifth of all deaths caused by natural hazards in the U.S.
Low-income people in urban areas tend to be most vulnerable to extreme heat. These neighborhoods often have a lot of hardscape that absorbs solar radiation during the day, without many parks or trees to mitigate this effect. Some of the poorest residents do not have air conditioning. Businesses in vulnerable neighborhoods use more energy than enterprises in more affluent areas because of higher temperatures.
So, green roofs that help cool buildings and green infrastructure could be most impactful in low-income areas of cities. Other options such as vertical gardens on a building’s exterior and white rooftops can help moderate urban temperatures, cut utility bills, and improve quality of life.
Researchers from the University of Notre Dame team identified Chicago neighborhoods that had the most to gain from green roofs by figuring out which ones had the most heat vulnerability, the greatest potential reductions in rooftop temperatures, and used the most electricity for cooling. Researchers also designed steps for urban planners to set priorities for a public effort to install green roofs.
Related Stories
Codes and Standards | Aug 17, 2021
Three Texas cities head list of most environmentally vulnerable
Hazard analysis includes natural disasters and government response categories.
Codes and Standards | Aug 16, 2021
Bill would reform New York’s public contracting process
Council on Public Contracting Reform to have contractor representation.
Codes and Standards | Aug 12, 2021
AGC pushes for more environmentally friendly construction
Contractor trade group supports government investment, tax incentives to reduce carbon footprints.
Codes and Standards | Aug 11, 2021
Decentralized approach to codes means emissions reduction responsibility falls on local officials
Efficiency advocates focusing more on local code amendments.
Codes and Standards | Aug 10, 2021
Dept. of Energy issues model energy code determinations for commercial, residential buildings
2021 IECC offers 9.4% site energy savings.
Digital Twin | Aug 9, 2021
Digital Twin Maturity white paper offers guidance on digital twin adoption
Provides lifecycle map and an approach for incorporating digital twins.
Codes and Standards | Aug 5, 2021
Contractors can be liable for building failures many years after project completion
Personal injury suits could be brought decades after substantial completion.
Codes and Standards | Aug 4, 2021
Mass timber is a natural choice for building recycling through deconstruction
Designing wood buildings to optimize recovery of materials for disassembly aids carbon sequestration.
Codes and Standards | Aug 3, 2021
Dept. of Energy releases initial version of the Spawn of EnergyPlus software
Targets new use cases in advanced controls, district systems, and grid integration.
Codes and Standards | Aug 2, 2021
Several U.S. cities among most expensive places to build in the world
San Francisco, New York, and Boston head the domestic list.