Urban Heat Island Reduction

Air temperatures in urban areas have increased by 2ºF per decade over the last 50 years and are now 7 to 11ºF higher than in the surrounding undeveloped areas. (Susan K. Weiler, 2009)

Green roofs can alleviate the Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect by covering rooftops - one of the hottest factors in the urban environment - with cool, green surfaces. Black roofs can reach temperatures of 150ºF while green roofs rarely exceed 86ºF. (Kingsbury, 2008)

A city's electricity load increases by up to 2% for each 1ºF increase in ambient air temperature during summer months. This exacerbates UHI by increasing a cities energy consumption leading to an increase in air emissions and more air pollution. (Susan K. Weiler, 2009)