Urban Islands
In many U.S. cities, summertime temperatures can be up to 10 degrees warmer than surrounding natural areas, creating “urban heat islands.” The structure of cities plays a major role in the development of heat islands – dark pavement and buildings absorb and trap heat, narrow streets with tall buildings can trap heat and reduce wind flow, and reduced tree cover results in less shading and natural cooling. As a matter of fact, increasing temperatures in cities over the past several decades means that between three- to eight-percent of energy is used to compensate for the heat island effect!
Viewer Tip: Stay cool and save energy by keeping your home closed up during the day and putting off any heat-producing activities (such as running the dishwasher or dryer) until the cooler evening hours. If you don’t have a fan or air conditioner, try to get to a mall, library, or other community building to cool off. And, lend a hand — if you have an older or disabled relative, friend, or neighbor, check-in with them to make sure they are safely coping with the heat.
Season: Summer
(Sources: US EPA. “Cooling Summertime Temperatures: Strategies to Reduce Urban Heat Islands.” http://www.epa.gov/heatisland/resources/pdf/HIRIbrochure.pdf; National Institutes of Health. “Keep it Cool with Hot Weather Advice for Older People.” www.nih.gov/news/pr/jul2006/nia-24.htm)
