Urban heat-island effect increases city temperatures due to concrete and asphalt absorbing heat.
Cool roofs, using reflective materials, can significantly lower temperatures more effectively than green roofs or solar panels.
Policies and incentives are needed to promote the adoption of cool roofs in urban areas.
Key quote:
"In the same way that the urban environment that we have built around us can exacerbate heat, it can also be modified to reduce that heat."
— Edith de Guzman, researcher at UCLA and director of the Los Angeles Urban Cooling Collaborative
Why this matters:
As cities grow hotter due to climate change, effective cooling measures like cool roofs can reduce heat-related illnesses and deaths. Implementing these passive cooling techniques helps make urban environments more livable and resilient.
