Mitigate Urban Heat Island Through Shading

This initiative proposes to mitigate the urban heat island effect on campus through increased shading of heat-absorbing surfaces and by removing these surface types where possible. Implementing a variety of shading techniques will reduce cooling costs and improve walkability, particularly benefiting heat-vulnerable populations. Actionable items include:

• Conduct an existing benchmark analysis of current shade and set a goal to increase shade by a specific percentage within a defined timeline.
• Increase the number of shade trees on campus, focusing on south-facing walls and building apertures for energy savings, and on benches, tables, and walkways for people.
• Strategically plant shade trees in high-traffic areas, prioritizing locations with communal gatherings and group activities.
• Implement green roof and cool-roof technologies in new building designs and retrofits to reduce building and surrounding air temperatures and lower energy consumption.
• Transition ground-level surface materials to those that absorb less heat, even when unshaded.