The installation of green roofs in cities to reduce the “urban heat island” effect should take into account which areas are hottest, which people are most vulnerable and where air-conditioning usage is highest, say researchers in the US. The effect describes the heightened air temperatures of cities relative to the surrounding countryside.
Using computer models to include all these factors, the researchers found that in the US city of Chicago, areas to the south and west, as well as certain other isolated areas, would benefit most from green roof installation.
The methodology can and should be applied to other places that suffer from the urban heat island effect, the researchers say.
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