Phoenix heat efforts make national news (Buckeye: construction, zoning, vs.)

[Voebe]

There was a considerable segment on the PBS New Hour, featuring the new heat-mitigation guy, David Hondula.

Some of the ideas are interesting, but some are just patches, since people would be unwilling to face the real fixes, like fewer cars and fewer swimming pools.


Phoenix tries to offset rising temperatures that pose health risks to the most vulnerable

https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/ph...ost-vulnerable

[mysticaltyger]

They need to plant more trees and reduce asphalt and concrete. When I was in Florida, I noticed the roads are a lighter, whitish/gray color. Phoenix should do the same.

[Valley Native]

Originally Posted by mysticaltyger

They need to plant more trees and reduce asphalt and concrete. When I was in Florida, I noticed the roads are a lighter, whitish/gray color. Phoenix should do the same.

I don't know how we can reduce asphalt & concrete. That's part of life in a big metro, and it wouldn't make sense to walk/drive on dirt. The dust problem would be out of control. I'm in favor of experimenting with the lighter asphalt, but I'd like to see actual evidence that it's helping with cooling the air temperature. As far as more trees, that's something I'm highly in favor of ... however, Phoenix seems to have a fetish lately of tearing out greenery instead of planting more. I'm guessing it's due to the water situation, and it's causing an overreaction among city "leaders". If they had any intelligence, they would get rid of the TRUE water wasters, which aren't grass lawns or shade trees!

[Countryfreak]

Originally Posted by mysticaltyger

They need to plant more trees and reduce asphalt and concrete. When I was in Florida, I noticed the roads are a lighter, whitish/gray color. Phoenix should do the same.

Former Floridian here. Those lighter color roads do nothing noticeable to what the avg person feels in heat and humidity.

[Williamhbonney]

Originally Posted by mysticaltyger

They need to plant more trees and reduce asphalt and concrete. When I was in Florida, I noticed the roads are a lighter, whitish/gray color. Phoenix should do the same.

Have you ever seen phoenix from an airplane?

Your suggestions are ridiculous.

[goolsbyjazz]

Originally Posted by Valley Native

I don't know how we can reduce asphalt & concrete. That's part of life in a big metro, and it wouldn't make sense to walk/drive on dirt. The dust problem would be out of control. I'm in favor of experimenting with the lighter asphalt, but I'd like to see actual evidence that it's helping with cooling the air temperature. As far as more trees, that's something I'm highly in favor of ... however, Phoenix seems to have a fetish lately of tearing out greenery instead of planting more. I'm guessing it's due to the water situation, and it's causing an overreaction among city "leaders". If they had any intelligence, they would get rid of the TRUE water wasters, which aren't grass lawns or shade trees!

More trees would be wonderful, but I am not sure which types could survive our extreme temps? I too would like to see evidence on whether lighter asphalt results in cooler temps. I thought they were experimenting with that sort of thing already?

[hikernut]

The urban heat island’s main effect is to increase the overnight lows. Afternoon temperatures are very similar across the Valley. As I’m writing this the temperature in Phoenix is 108. San Tan Valley is 109. Buckeye is 110. The difference in morning temps can be 5-8 degrees, though.

IMO, even a determined effort would only drop the overnight low a couple of degrees Fahrenheit, and likely have no noticeable impact on the daily high temps.

[atler8]

Originally Posted by goolsbyjazz

More trees would be wonderful, but I am not sure which types could survive our extreme temps? I too would like to see evidence on whether lighter asphalt results in cooler temps. I thought they were experimenting with that sort of thing already?

That light vs. dark concept is called "the albedo effect" and pretty well-known among people in the building trades.

Simply put, a light-colored surface reflects more heat from the sun than does a dark-colored surface which absorbs more heat.

My dad was a home-builder decades ago and from him I picked up his interest in energy conservation and quality construction and even today, as I survey an urban setting, I still tend to notice things like heat absorption & light reflection, surface colors and shading, tree canopy, xeriscaping, air movement around buildings, zoning concepts & regulations, etc...

Put together, via the effective use of all of these factors, we can make a difference in the quality of our built environment & in our energy conservation & efficiency.

https://www.npolar.no/en/fact/albedo/

[Not Sure 12]

More trees = More water needed

Will that work?

[Seguinite]

Originally Posted by goolsbyjazz

More trees would be wonderful, but I am not sure which types could survive our extreme temps? I too would like to see evidence on whether lighter asphalt results in cooler temps. I thought they were experimenting with that sort of thing already?

I'd expect the lighter color asphalt would be cooler... but it would still be hot enough (especially in Phoenix) for the difference to be insignificant in real life.

My south Texas experience also says a white car closed up all day feels just as hot as a black one.