The Urban Heat Island Effect Should Force Us to Build Smarter Now Before It's Too Late

by Greg KatS & KEITH GLASSBROOK

With more paved area, less greenery and more dark surfaces, cities experience what is called an urban heat island effect - substantially higher summer temperatures and worse air pollution than the surrounding suburban and rural areas. The damage and cost of increased temperature and air pollution are particularly acute for low-income urban areas. In 2005, Environmental Health Perspectives noted that ….

[V]arious aspects of the built environment can have profound, directly measurable effects on both physical and mental health outcomes, particularly adding to the burden of illness among ethnic minority populations and low-income communities.

Low income communities generally share some common attributes …

 Air and temperature conditions in low income areas are generally worsened by 1) less tree coverage, 2) fewer reflective and porous surfaces, and 3) more unwanted heat absorption than more affluent city neighborhoods. This results in …

• higher summer temperatures,

• worse air quality,

• increased health problems, and

• higher energy bills

… than in more affluent areas. Urban low-income residents also suffer disproportionally from the urban heat island effect and have a higher likelihood of residing in inefficient homes. Health also suffers, and brings cascading costs relating to lost school and work days and reduced income.