Mitigating the Urban Heat Island (UHI)

Urban areas can be several degrees warmer than their surroundings due to dense materials, limited vegetation, and waste heat. Mitigation reduces cooling demand, peak loads, and health risks.

What drives UHI

• Low albedo and high thermal mass surfaces
• Lack of trees and evapotranspiration
• Waste heat from buildings, industry, and transport

Planning principles

• Target priority districts (schools, hospitals, dense housing) first
• Use tree species resilient to drought and heat; ensure root volumes and irrigation
• Coordinate façade/roof retrofits with energy upgrades to minimize disruptions

How to explore in the Platform

Use the Explorer to filter by KPI and area, then compare scenarios:

• Select KPI = UHI and a target area (e.g., Bolzano)
• Switch scenario to 2030 or 2040 and compare summer peaks
• Overlay greening opportunities with socio-economic layers to prioritize equitable outcomes

References

1. WHO — Urban green spaces and health: A review of evidence (2016)
2. Global Cool Cities Alliance — A Practical Guide to Cool Roofs and Cool Pavements