Cool Down
Did you know that Houston’s urban areas can be up to eight degrees warmer than surrounding rural areas? When roads, buildings, and other “hard” surfaces absorb and trap heat, the city can really warm up! This “urban heat island effect” contributes to increased air pollution levels and higher energy use.
Viewer Tip: Between 1972 and 1999, Houston lost around 400 square miles of tree canopy. Trees not only make our landscape more beautiful, they also cool and remove pollutants from the air, mitigating the effects of urban heat! If you’re thinking about landscaping in your yard, try to add a large tree. Your local garden center or University Cooperative Extension Service can help you choose trees that will thrive in your yard.
Season: Summer
(Sources: The Houston Advanced Research Center. “Houston Urban Heat Island Effect.” Available from: http://www.harc.edu/Projects/CoolHouston/)
