By understanding in detail where hot spots are located, cities can address extreme heat neighborhood-by-neighborhood, choosing from a variety of strategies that include removing or whitewashing black asphalt or roof surfaces, adding more trees for shade, requiring developers to vary the heights of new buildings to increase airflow, and opening more public air-conditioned spaces.
Can We Turn Down the Temperature on Urban Heat Islands?
A youth volunteer from Groundwork RVA attaches a sensor unit onto a car to collect heat data in Richmond, Virginia.