U.S. Dept. of Energy Releases New Video on Cool Roofs
Posted by karen-smith-murphy on August 15, 2014
The U.S. Department of Energy just came out with this handy 2 minute video. It explains how the urban heat island effect works, and shows how cool roofs are a simple and economical way to cool things down in your city on a hot day. This edition of Energy 101 takes a look at how Read More…
And the Heat Goes on – Another Deadly Heat Wave Hits Japan
Posted by karen-smith-murphy on August 4, 2014
Barely a year after extreme heat killed 17 and sent more than 9,800 people to the hospital, Japan has been hit with another heat wave. This most recent extreme heat event killed 11 and sent 1,900 to hospitals, and broke heat records in 14 Japanese cities. Other cities around the world have also been hit Read More…
Catch GGCA’s Own Kurt Shickman on WAMU’s Metro Connection
Posted by karen-smith-murphy on August 1, 2014
Johnathan Wilson, environmental reporter for WAMU (a public radio station in Washington, DC) recently spoke with GCCA Executive Director, Kurt Shickman about the dangers of rising urban temperatures. Kurt explained how reflective surfaces and increased vegetation help save lives in extreme heat events. “We’ve found that on the average heat wave that lasts about four Read More…
4 ways your city can be cooler next summer
Posted by virginiahewitt on
This summer was a scorcher. Heat waves repeatedly struck the Midwest and South, sparing only sections of the Northeast. All of California is still in a drought. Cities were especially hot due to their concentration of buildings and human activity, a phenomenon called the urban heat island effect. At times, it may have felt impossible to beat Read More…
Cities Now Contain Over Half the World’s Population
Posted by karen-smith-murphy on July 24, 2014
Hot summer days can often be sticky and miserable in an urban heat island. Dark surfaces, lack of shade trees and climate-driven heat events mean higher summer temperatures and prolonged heat waves. Add to that the growing population in many of the world’s mega-cities, and winter weather is looking better and better! The United Nations Read More…