Research Reveals Heat's Real Cost

Landscape Architect shows the effects of ignoring heat in design
by Keziah Olsen Morris, LASN

Thermal imaging research shows how plants and materials have an immediate and profound effect on surrounding surface temperature, as well as the long-term costs of living in an area. Photo Credit: Andrew Nussbaum, Unsplash

x

Thermal imaging research shows how plants and materials have an immediate and profound effect on surrounding surface temperature, as well as the long-term costs of living in an area. Photo Credit: Andrew Nussbaum, Unsplash

A single, well-placed tree can keep surrounding surface temperatures as much as 35 degrees Fahrenheit cooler than the exposed concrete just a few feet beyond the canopy's reach. This example comes from research done by Keenan Gibbons, PLA, LEED GA, utilizing drone thermal scans to analyze the effects of heat at the city block level. The result of these scans is the precise identification of what materials on buildings and streetscapes directly contribute to increased surface temperature that places greater demand on cooling, stresses the electrical gid, and increases adverse health effects related to heat. Gibbons argues that current street design programs are costing billions of dollars in annual public expense, but because the cost shows up in hospitals, doctor's offices, and family utility bills, it goes unnoticed. The research done shows the tangible and practical effects of already common landscape architectural interventions, which can be used in client interactions, bids, and legislative efforts. To read the full article, go to: https://www.asla.org/news-insights/dirt/the-price-of-hot-landscapes