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.

9 July 2009 - 8:00am

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.

4 June 2009 - 5:00am

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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.

20 May 2009 - 6:00am

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.

28 January 2009 - 2:00pm

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.

1 May 2008 - 7:00am

Housing Policy Debate

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