This past year, cities across the country have witnessed record heat waves, urban heat deaths, and flooding. A new report from Smart Surfaces Coalition explores key strategies for cities to implement that reduce extreme heat, mitigate flooding, decrease climate change risk, and promote environmental justice. Using the city of Stockton in California, this case study report finds that the adoption of Smart Surfaces - including reflective, porous, and green surfaces, solar photovoltaics (PV) and trees - in California can improve air quality and public health, cut urban heat, and support equitable development. Their analysis demonstrates that city-wide adoption of Smart Surfaces in a hot- and mixed-dry climate like Stockton would:
- Reduce summer peak temperature in downtown Stockton by 2.9°F-with the largest benefits accruing to low-income and minority neighborhoods
- Deliver a $777 million net present value from adoption of Smart Surfaces, with a benefit-cost ratio of 6.9:1, and net savings to the city from the first year
- Create 817 full-time jobs
- Reduce 4.6 million tonnes of CO2e emissions over 30 years
Read more here >
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Eana Bacchiocchi
Specialist, Sustainability & Resilience Communications & Support
The American Institute of Architects
Washington DC
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