Urban Heat Island
Is Concrete the New Asphalt?
As oil prices rise, so does the cost of asphalt. Concrete, historically more expensive, is now becoming a viable cost competitor. Because of its lighter shade, its also been shown to contribute less to climate change.
The Infrastructurist
The Planetizen News Brief - 6/4/09
4:40 minutes (4.28 MB)
Unexpected cities for jobs, parks facing funding trouble in California, and the new U.S. Energy Secretary says to paint the world white, all on this week's Planetizen News Brief, airing weekly on the nationally-syndicated radio show "Smart City". Read, listen or download.
White Roofs Can Be Wrong Roofs
White roofs have gained cachet as a solution to the urban heat island effect. But in places where there are more cold days than hot, a white roof that reflects warming sunlight might not make the best sense, according to this piece.
Miller-McCune
White Light, White Streets
Fighting global warming could be as simple as a paint job -- a global, sun-reflecting, white-wash paint job, according to scientist Hashem Akbari.
Guardian
Is Residential Energy Use Affected By Urban Form?
In the current issue of Housing Policy Debate, Reid Ewing and Fang Rong argue that sprawling urban form contributes to higher residential energy use. Two responses -- one from Samuel Staley and another by John Randolph -- rebut the paper.
Housing Policy Debate


















