The document summarizes several urban heat island reduction initiatives in various US cities. It describes programs that plant trees to reduce temperatures, such as in Dallas and Austin. It outlines green building codes and projects using green roofs to mitigate heat islands in cities like Boston, Washington D.C., and Atlanta. University and federal building projects implementing cool roofs are also discussed for South Carolina and Tennessee. The document concludes by noting these initiatives have been added to EPA's database to provide guidance to other communities.

1. Urban Heat Island Reduction in the United States
Chris Tripp, Michael Edwards, and Dr. Shea Rose
University of West Georgia
Summer 2011 at the EPA’s Heat Island Reduction Program
Adopt-a-Median Tree Planting Program
Dallas, Texas
This program is overseen by the Urban Forest Advisory Committee and the Dallas Streets
Department. The programs main objective is to plant more trees in medians in order to reduce the
effects of Dallas’ urban heat island. Adopt-a-Median allows any group of people in Dallas to adopt
medians and take responsibility of their tree planting and maintenance. Groups can either self-fund
tree plantings, or by complying with city regulations obtain funding from the city Street
Department’s MOWmentum fund, or the city’s Reforestation Fund.
TreeFolks-Neighborwoods
Austin, Texas
Started in 1989, TreeFolks directs many programs that help to grow the urban forests of Central
Texas. One program in particular, NeighborWoods, began delivering free street trees in 2004. This
program will reduce the urban heat island effect and increase the size of the urban tree canopy. This
program will allow for residents to increase their property values while decreasing their energy bills.
Green Building Zoning Code
Boston, Massachusetts
Boston is decreasing emissions from privately owned buildings by implementing a Green Building
Zoning Code. The zoning code requires all major construction projects greater than 50,000 square
feet to adhere to the U.S. Green Building Council’s (USGBC) LEED certification standards. Two of
the points for this certification can be obtained from using urban heat island reduction strategies, one
point coming from cool or green roofs and the other from non-roof strategies.
Unified Green Roof Rebate Program
The District Department of the Environment (DDOE) and
Anacostia Watershed Society (AWS)
Washington, D.C.
A green roof rebate was started in Washington, D.C. that funds five dollars per square foot of green
roof. The program was started in 2010 and is administered for the District Department of the
Environment by the Anacostia Watershed Society. The program is funded by the American Recovery
and reinvestment Act. The program was implemented to mitigate the urban heat island effect,
improve stormwater management and energy efficiency, increase public health, reduce demand on
municipal water systems, and extend the lives of roofs in D.C. The five dollars per square foot of
green roof that is covered caps off at 5,000 square feet. Additional funding can be provided for
features that add to the environmental goals.
Wofford College
Goodall Environmental Studies Center Cool Roof
Spartanburg, South Carolina
Completed in 2010, the Goodall Environmental Studies Center at Wofford College is using a cool
roof and is the first academic building in South Carolina to receive the U.S. Green Building Council’s
LEED Platinum certification. The study center received a point for urban heat island mitigation in the
LEED certification from implementing the cool roof. The cool roof and other retrofits will allow for
this building to use 32 percent less energy annually than average buildings of its same size and type.
McMillan Federal Courthouse Green Roof
Florence, South Carolina
Completed in March 2011, the 28,500 sq. ft. green roof on the McMillan Federal Courthouse was part
of a Federal General Service Administration Project under the American Recovery and Reinvestment
Act. This project helps public/federal buildings improve energy efficiency. The act dispersed 4.5
billion dollars to convert federal buildings to high performance green buildings. This green roof is a
great example of how federal buildings can implement strategies to mitigate the urban heat island
effect.
Hamilton County Health Department Green Roof Project
Chattanooga, Tennessee
This 4,000 sq. ft. green roof is funded by a 250,000 dollar Energy Efficiency Conservation Block
Grant from the Department of Energy as a part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act for
the county and additional funds were donated by a local nonprofit organization. This project will
help to mitigate the urban heat island effect while enhancing the energy efficiency of the building,
decreasing stormwater runoff, and providing an educational opportunity. The health department will
be collecting empirical data with monitoring equipment on the differences between the original roof
and the green area. This data will provide information on energy savings and water conservation that
will in turn help decide whether or not to expand the green roof.
Urban Heat Island Initiatives
Frances Bunzl Administration Center Green Roof
Atlanta High Museum of Art
Atlanta, Georgia
The green roof on top of the Frances Bunzl Administration Center was completed April 10, 2008.
This green roof will help to mitigate the urban heat island effect, reduce energy consumption, and
improve air quality in downtown Atlanta. This project was financed partially through a Nonpoint
Source Implementation Grant from EPA, in partnership with the Environmental Protection Division
of the Department of Natural Resources, awarded to the City of Atlanta Department of Watershed
Management, and matching funds came from the Kendeda Foundation. The Nonpoint Source
Implementation Grant is awarded to projects that address non-point source pollution through
stormwater management strategies. This modular green roof will be able to retain about 70 percent of
the total rainfall or 62,000 gallons of stormwater per year. The idea of the project came from the
Woodruff Board of Trustees member David Harris. This green roof also allowed for the Savannah
College of Art and Design to take part in the plant selection and to film a documentary on the module
installation.
Target Center Arena Green Roof
Completed September 2009
Minneapolis, Minnesota
The 113,000 square foot green roof on the Target Center Arena was put in place to mitigate the urban
heat island effect and to address sewer overflow problems as well as problems with stormwater
runoff draining directly into the Mississippi River. The City Council took the leadership role in this
difficult large-scale retrofit project. There are over thirty species of vegetation on the roof including
Lupines, which provide a habitat for the endangered Karner Blue Butterfly. The green roof manages
an average of one million gallons of stormwater each year as well as providing attendant-energy-
cost savings. There is a twenty year guarantee on the project which allows for only four square feet
of bare soil on the roof at anytime.
U.S. EPA Heat Island Reduction Program
Program Goals
• Encourage heat island reduction through regulatory guidance and voluntary efforts.
• Educate and foster awareness while building relationships to enhance the success of implementation efforts.
EPA Activities
• EPA's Heat Island Reduction Initiative focuses on translating urban heat island research results into outreach materials,
tools, and guidance to provide communities with information needed to develop urban heat island projects, programs,
and policies.
EPA's Heat Island Webcasts
• Webcasts are held regularly on topics of interest for the heat Island community.
• View past webcasts at: http://www.epa.gov/heatisland/resources/webcasts.html
EPA's Heat Island Listserv
• Subscribe to learn about funding opportunities, webcasts, publications, and events of interest to the urban heat island
community: www.epa.gov/heatisland
Database
• Learn about efforts underway to cool communities while saving energy, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and
improving air quality
• Initiatives are organized according to:
•Geographic Location
•Initiative Type
•Mitigation Strategy
Resources
• A variety of documents are provided to assist with Heat Island reduction efforts:
•Reducing Urban Heat Islands: Compendium of Strategies
•EPA Heat Island Website
•Fact Sheets
Abstract
The purpose of this research was to analyze examples of urban heat island (UHI) reduction
projects and programs being planned and implemented by cities, universities, non-profits,
utilities, and local/state/federal governments within the United States. The research allowed
for the development of examples and case studies which will provide communities with
information on funding, initiators, co-benefits, planning strategies, challenges, and results of
implementing UHI mitigation strategies. A snowball sampling technique was utilized in
gathering information for examples and case studies; this involved contacting UHI
researchers, city planners, transportation departments, urban forestry administrations, and
public health organizations. Conferences at the EPA and briefings proved to be a useful
source for identifying and obtaining information on various projects and programs. Co-
benefits such as stormwater management, energy efficiency, and enhanced air quality are
motivators for implementation of UHI mitigation strategies. These examples have been
added to the Environmental Protection Agency’s online database of heat island mitigation
strategies and will be available to communities as guidance in implementing future projects
that mitigate the UHI effect. The research has shown that UHI mitigation strategies are
being implemented throughout the U.S. This research strengthens the relationship between
science and policy development necessary for future success of efforts to implement
programs that mitigate the UHI effect.
Project Ward Sq ft of
Impervio
us
Removed
Description
Seaton School
1503 10th St NW
2 14,000 Large expanse of concrete in front of this DCPS facility was removed. The existing soil removed and replaced
with structural soil followed by 10 inches of topsoil and sod.
Foggy Bottom
19th-20th St. NW
2 539 Tree boxes expanded
Kennedy St. NW
200 - 900 block
4 647 12 tree boxes expanded, 10 new boxes created.
East Capitol NE
400 - 1500 block
6 2,638 84 tree boxes expanded an average of 31 sq ft.
A Street NE
300 - 1100 block
6 2,863 50 Tree boxes expanded an average of 57 sq ft.
10th Street NE
100 - 400 block
6 578 21 tree boxes expanded, 3 new boxes created
12th Street SE
(CVS) 500 block
6 239 5 tree boxes expanded, 2 new boxes created.
P Street NW Unit
Block to Logan
Circle
2,5 7,193 Create a continuous strip along P Street.
Hanover Place 5 686 Create 24 new boxes on a block that currently has no tree boxes.
Florida Avenue
and North
Capitol Triangle
Park
5 2,129 Remove impervious surface from triangle park and replace with top soil and sod. Create 3 new tree boxes.
P Street NE Unit
Block and North
Capitol
5 11,196 Remove excessive impervious surface from sidewalk and replace with top soil and sod. Create 3 new tree boxes.
Plant 12 new trees.
Brent School
300 Block 3rd
Street SE
6 1,616 Remove impervious surface from sidewalk to create a continuous strip and replace with top soil and either
mulch or sod.
Adams Morgan 1 4,286 Expand 31 boxes from 3'-6' in length. Create 32 new boxes, and create a continuous strip on the 2200 block of
16th Street.
4th and Adams 5 488 Cut 8 new tree boxes on 4th Street and Rhode Island Ave. Expand 2 existing boxes.
10th and Rhode
Island NW
2 1,657 Create a continuous strip along 10th Street between Rhode Island Avenue and P Street, beside the Seaton
School. Increase the number of planting locations from 8 to 11. Create root channels from CU soil beneath
sidewalk to athletic field.
O Street and New
Jersey Ave, NW
2 4,974 Create and continuous strip along O Street between New Jersey Avenue and 5th Street NW. 5 additional
planting locations were created.
Minnesota Ave 7,8 1460 14 new tree boxes created, 3 tree boxes expanded, and a continuous strip restored
Washington, D.C. Case Study
The District Department of Transportation (DDOT) and the Urban Forestry
Administration (UFA) initiated the Impervious Surface Reduction Project and the
Green Median Renovation Project. The goals of the DDOT and the UFA in these
projects are to expand the urban tree canopy (UFA primary goal) and reduce storm
water runoff (DDOE primary goal). These projects reduce urban heat island effect by
increasing overall shade and evapotranspiration; this is accomplished by the removal
of heat storing impervious surfaces, the creation of improved street tree locations, and
the creation of new locations for tree planting.
As shown in this example from New Orleans, electrical
load can increase steadily once temperatures begin to
exceed about 68 to 77°F (20 to 25°C). Other areas of the
country show similar demand curves as temperature
increases.
USDA South Building Court 5 Green
Roof
This 3,500 square foot green roof followed the
installation of a 500 gallon cistern that catches runoff
from an adjacent roof and provides irrigation for the
new green roof. The green roof reduces the urban heat
island effect, is more aesthetically pleasing than
conventional roofs, and manages stormwater runoff that
is entering local waterways and the Chesapeake Bay.
FaST Team
The faculty-student team from the University of West Georgia
consisted of Dr. Rose, Chris Tripp, and Michael Edwards.
EPA’s Online Heat Island Initiatives
Several of the projects researched over the summer have been added to the online
database of heat island reduction initiatives. This database can be found at:
http://yosemite.epa.gov/gw/heatisland.nsf/webpages/HIRI_Initiatives.html
What is an Urban Heat Island?
Surface and atmospheric temperatures vary over different
land use areas. Surface temperatures vary more than air
temperatures during the day, but they both are fairly
similar at night. The dip and spike in surface temperatures
over the pond show how water maintains a fairly constant
temperature day and night, due to its high heat capacity.
Many urban and suburban areas experience elevated temperatures compared to their outlying rural surroundings;
this difference in temperature is what constitutes an urban heat island. The annual mean air temperature of a city
with one million or more people can be 1.8 to 5.4°F (1 to 3°C) warmer than its surroundings, and on a clear, calm
night, this temperature difference can be as much as 22°F (12°C). Even smaller cities and towns will produce heat
islands, though the effect often decreases as city size decreases.
From: Reducing Urban Heat Islands: Compendium of Strategies Urban Heat Island Basics, Draft. http://www.epa.gov/heatislands/resources/pdf/ActivitiesCompendium.pdf