Heat Island Reduction Activities

cross the United States, a diverse group of stakeholders, from government agen- cies to corporations, have advanced urban heat island reduction strategies—urban Aforestry, green and cool roofs, and cool pavements—to lower summertime tempera- tures and achieve many energy and environmental benefits. Typically heat island mitiga- tion is part of an energy, air quality, water, or sustainability effort,1 and activities range from voluntary initiatives, such as cool pavement demonstration projects, to policy actions, such as requiring cool roofs via building codes. Some communities have elected to imple- ment both voluntary and policy initiatives. These efforts can complement each other, and sometimes an initiative that begins as a voluntary activity becomes required over time.

This chapter draws from the experience of many different groups and covers a range of initiatives to highlight a variety of urban heat island reduction activities around the coun- try. Examples for the following types of activities are included: t
Demonstration projects t
Incentive programs t
Urban forestry programs t
Weatherization t
Outreach and education t
Awards t
Procurement t
Resolutions t
Tree and landscape ordinances t
Comprehensive plans and design guidelines t
Zoning codes t
Green building standards t
Building codes t
Air quality standards.

HEAT ISLAND REDUCTION ACTIVITIES – DRAFT 1 publicity needed to develop larger initia- tives, promote new technologies and help Heat Island Mitigation get them to market, and sometimes even Strategies encourage local economic development. (See the “Stimulating Local Economies and For more information on heat island Businesses” textbox.) reduction strategies, see the corre- sponding chapters of this compendium: Communities have found heat island dem- “Trees and Vegetation,” “Green Roofs,” onstration projects to be most effective “Cool Roofs,” and “Cool Pavements.” when they: t
Target high-visibility projects. Focus- 1. Voluntary Efforts ing efforts on a prominent building or site helps attract attention to heat island Most community strategies to reduce heat mitigation efforts. islands have relied on voluntary efforts, which can generally be grouped into the t
Measure benefits. Highlighting antici- following categories: pated benefits and collecting data on actual impacts provides useful informa- t
Demonstration projects tion for planning future activities. These benefits also illustrate to others the t
Incentive programs reasons and means to act. t
Urban forestry programs t
Convey lessons learned. Documenting t
Weatherization how demonstration projects are con- t
Outreach and education ducted makes them easier to replicate t
Awards. and improve.

Many groups choose to conduct just one kind of activity; others combine ap- proaches. For example, some utilities have Lead By Example focused on cool roof rebates to encourage consumers to install reflective roofing prod- “Lead by example” programs involve ucts. Some local environment departments implementing strategies within lo- have sponsored demonstration projects, cal and state government facilities, conducted outreach and education efforts operations, and fleets, where appro- to publicize results, and have provided priate. These programs offer energy, grants to support use of mitigation tech- environmental, and financial benefits nologies by residents and industry. while creating an important opportu- nity for governments to demonstrate 1.1 Demonstration Projects the economic feasibility of the strate- Local governments, universities, and other gies they are promoting. This lead- organizations have used projects to demon- ership can raise public awareness strate a specific heat island mitigation strat- of the benefits of urban heat island egy and quantify its benefits in a controlled reduction strategies, which can lead environment. Documenting the project to increased public and private sector and its results can provide the data and support for advancing them.

2 REDUCING URBAN HEAT ISLANDS – DRAFT A variety of organizations can be the chief Figure 1: Chicago City Hall Green Roof agents of change and the first to test alter- native technologies, often in highly visible, public facilities. Demonstration projects have taken place in parks, schools, and mu- nicipal buildings like city hall. These proj- ects often also monitor costs and benefits, such as energy savings. Examples include: t
Chicago installed a green roof on its city hall that includes 20,000 plants, shrubs, grasses, vines, and trees. The Katrin Barth-Scholz/Department of Energy city expects to save directly more than Chicago’s commitment to green roofs includes 9,270 kilowatt-hours (kWh) per year of demonstration projects, such as on its City Hall, electricity and nearly 740 million British education, incentives, and policy actions. thermal units (Btu) per year of natural gas for heating. This energy savings translates into about $3,600 annually, and savings will increase with higher energy prices. In addition to assess- Stimulating Local ing energy impacts, the green roof has Economies and Businesses been designed to test different types of rooftop garden systems, success rates The non-profit group Sustainable of native and non-native vegetation, South Bronx has developed several and reductions in stormwater runoff. goals for the green roof/cool roof This city hall green roof has helped to demonstration project on top of its raise the visibility of green roofs and to office building in Hunts Point. These increase public understanding of them. goals include gathering research on Chicago’s Department of Environment local benefits, establishing a resource staff has frequently given presentations for the community, educating New about the roof, which has won numer- Yorkers on the value of green roofs, ous awards. For further information, go and advocating sustainable building to and practices. The demonstration project look under the Department of Environ- has become a springboard for de- ment’s City Hall green roof project. veloping a local green and cool roof installation company to provide em- t
A demonstration project for Tucson ployment opportunities in the South documented how a cool roof re- Bronx area. The group’s business is duced temperatures inside and on called SmartRoofs and includes a job- the roof of the building and saved training program for local residents. more than 400 million Btu annually See for more information. was installed over a 28,000-square foot (2,600 m2), unshaded metal roof on one of the city’s administration build- ings. Following the installation, energy savings were calculated at 50 to 65

HEAT ISLAND REDUCTION ACTIVITIES – DRAFT 3 percent of the building’s cooling ener- with an eastern, western, or south- gy—an avoided energy cost of nearly ern exposure that heats up during the $4,000 annually. See for more information. and seven feet tall (1.2-2.2 m), as well as stakes, ties, fertilizer, tree delivery, 1.2 Incentives and expert advice on tree selection Incentives have proven to be an effective and planting techniques free of charge. way to spur individual heat island reduc- Homeowners must agree to plant and tion actions. Incentives from governments, care for the trees. See for more clude below-market loans, tax breaks, information. SMUD also offers rebates product rebates, grants, and giveaways. For to residential customers who use cool example: roofing technologies. The utility offers a 20-cent-per-square-foot (0.09 m2) rebate t
Since 2006, Baltimore County’s Grow- to customers who own single-family, ing Home Campaign has provided multi-family, or mobile homes with flat $10 coupons to homeowners toward roofs and who install ENERGY STAR® the purchase of most trees at local cool roof products. nurseries. Each coupon represents $5 of t
Af ter the success of its green roof dem- public funds and $5 of retail funds. In onstration project, Chicago established order to validate their coupons, hom- green and cool roof grant programs. eowners provide information including The green roof program cites the ability tree type and location planted, which of green roofs to “create energy savings allows the county to integrate the data for building,” “lower surrounding urban with future tree canopy studies. The heat temperatures,” and “reduce storm county began the program as an in- water runoff, improve water quality, and novative way to increase tree canopy create conditions for longer-lasting roof cover as part of its larger “Green Re- systems.” Similarly, the city recognizes naissance” forest conservation and sus- cool roofs “not only help reduce cooling tainability plan. In the first two months costs, but can also have a positive envi- of the program, 1,700 trees were plant- ronmental impact by reducing the urban ed. See and the program supported 20 green roof for further information. nounced that it was expanding the pro- t
Since 1990, the Sacramento Mu- gram to include cool roofs and expected nicipal Utility District (SMUD) has to provide about 55 $6,000 grants. partnered with the Sacramento Tree Recipients can use grants for residential, Foundation to provide more than commercial, or industrial buildings. See 350,000 free shade trees to residents , under in the Sacramento area. This program the Department of Environment portion encourages residents to strategically of the website, for more information. plant vegetation around their homes to reduce energy consumption. Homes

4 REDUCING URBAN HEAT ISLANDS – DRAFT t
The Pennsylvania Department of analysis. The utility has been promoting Environmental Protection’s Energy cool roof products as a cost-effective Harvest Program has been providing and low-risk approach to reducing grants for specific energy saving proj- cooling loads and peak demand. As of ects since 2003. In 2007, it dispensed 2005, Austin Energy had awarded more more than $500,000 to green roof than $164,000 as rebates, represent- projects across the state. The Energy ing more than 1.5 million square feet Harvest Program overall aims to deploy (140,000 m2) of roof area and saving innovative technologies and encourages an estimated 1.25 million kWh of en- “proposals that are market-driven, create ergy. See for more information. Energy Harvest Program information available at: . t
In addition to green roofs, building Energy Incentives owners can also install vertical gar- The Database of State Incentives for dens—sometimes referred to as green Renewables and Efficiency (DSIRE) or living walls—on exterior walls to provides current information on shade buildings and provide evapo- state, local, utility, and select federal transpiration.2 The Houston Down- incentives that promote renewable town Management District (HDMD) energy and energy efficiency. Some Vertical Gardens Matching Grant of the incentives listed, particularly initiative first gave grants in 2007 those that involve energy efficiency to encourage plantings that cover and green building practices, include walls. The grants also support excep- heat island reduction strategies. See tional landscaping that adds significant . evapotranspiration and shade for blank walls, parking garages, and sidewalks. The program goals include improving 1.3 Urban Forestry Programs overall aesthetics, pedestrian comfort, Urban forestry or tree planting programs air quality, and reducing the heat island exist in most large cities and counties in effect. Grants cannot exceed half of the the United States. These programs gener- total project cost or $20,000, and contri- ally have broad goals that emphasize the butions can be in kind. Tenants, prop- multiple benefits trees can provide, includ- erty owners, and registered non-profits ing helping to cool cities. Most of these can all apply. See . revitalization. Moreover, many states give t
Since 2002, Austin Energy has given grants to communities and organizations 10-cent-per-square-foot rebates for that promote or maintain urban forests. For cool roof installations. Customers example, Wisconsin will disburse $530,000 must use cool roof products that have in roughly 40 grants in 2008 as part of a a minimum reflectivity of 75 percent, program it has operated since 1993; South and the project must pass a cost-benefit Dakota has run a similar program since

HEAT ISLAND REDUCTION ACTIVITIES – DRAFT 5 1991.3,4 As of early 2008, the Washington governments, foundations, trade asso- State legislature was working on several ciations, and private industry to restore bills that would support and expand local tree cover in the southeastern part of urban forestry efforts in recognition of how the state. TreeVitalize aims to plant urban trees and vegetation improve air more than 20,000 trees in approximate- quality, reduce temperatures, enhance qual- ly 40 neighborhoods in Bucks, Chester, ity of life, and reduce and filter stormwater Delaware, Montgomery, and Philadel- runoff.5 phia counties. The $8 million program targets neighborhoods in older cities, Frequently, urban afforestation focuses on boroughs, and townships in which tree low-income communities, where tree cover cover is below 25 percent. See for more information. t
Ground work Elizabeth, a nonprofit t
The Pennsylvania Department of group in Elizabeth, New Jersey, works Conservation and Natural Resources to involve neighborhood residents oversees a project called TreeVitalize, in community revitalization projects, which brings together county and local

Tree Maintenance and Education

Many urban forestry programs explain that it is easy to plant trees but difficult to maintain them, particularly until they become well established. In order to ensure most trees survive, programs have enlisted and empowered volunteers to care for trees until they are established. Community participation is important because most urban trees are not under public jurisdiction.

Often tree planting programs train participants in proper tree planting techniques and care. In Pennsylvania, TreeVitalize provides nine hours of classroom and field training to community residents who want to become urban forestry leaders. The classes cover tree identification, planting, pruning, mulching, tree biology/physiol- ogy, proper species selection, community tree care, and proper pruning. Residents also can learn how to organize community-assisted tree planting projects. Graduates are eligible to participate in advanced training and other events.

Other programs require community members to pledge to maintain and protect the trees that are planted. For example, Los Angeles residents interested in free trees from the Trees for a Green LA program first participate in an online or neighborhood workshop. Then, they complete a site plan and apply for their free trees. Residents pledge on their applications to plant and care for the trees in a proper manner and allow the city to inspect their work for overall program evaluation and quality assur- ance. See .

Please see the “Trees and Vegetation” chapter of this compendium for more informa- tion about urban forestry benefits and implementation considerations.

6 REDUCING URBAN HEAT ISLANDS – DRAFT including tree planting at local schools and parks. The organization was instru- mental in getting Elizabeth involved in Heat Health—An New Jersey’s Cool Cities Initiative, which Opportunity to Advance aims to plant trees primarily in the large Heat Island Mitigation cities of New Jersey with low tree cover- age. See for more information. Several large cities have developed 1.4 Weatherization programs to minimize health impacts from excessive heat events. These Communities have used weatherization efforts provide an opportunity to programs as an opportunity to mitigate educate communities about urban heat islands, protect public health, and save heat islands and promote heat is- energy. Weatherization usually involves land reduction strategies, particularly making the homes of qualifying residents, shade tree planting and cool roof generally low-income families, more en- applications, as a long-term miti- ergy efficient at no cost to the residents. gation or adaptation strategy. For States use weatherization funds provided example, Philadelphia has long been by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) concerned with reducing heat-related Weatherization Assistance Program to help mortality. The city was the first in recipients cover heating bills and invest in the United States to implement a energy efficiency actions that lower costs. Heat Health Watch-Warning System, States can also use the funds to install cool- which has become a worldwide ing efficiency measures, such as screening model for heat wave forecasting. and shading devices. When the Philadelphia Public Health The Energy Coordinating Agency (ECA) Department educates citizens about of Philadelphia, which administers the excessive heat events and immedi- city’s weatherization services, has applied ate counter-measures, such as using cool roof coatings as part of its package telephone heat hotlines and taking of energy efficiency treatments. Through advantage of public air-conditioned its Cool Homes Program, more than 550 buildings, or “cooling centers,” it also residences in the Philadelphia area have provides them information about had their roofs coated. ECA commissioned longer-term heat island reduction a study that found the cool coatings and strategies. increased insulation eliminated 90 percent of the heat gain through the ceiling, reduc- EPA’s Excessive Heat Events Guidebook ing top-floor ceiling temperatures by an explains how local public health of- average of 4.7°F (2.6°C) and chest-height ficials and others can assess their vul- temperatures by 2.4°F (1.3°C). These re- nerability and develop and implement duced temperatures lowered air condition- notification and response programs. ing loads by about one-third in a typical See . ses/whiteroof/roof-coolhomes.html> for more information.

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