Study: Parked Cars Significantly Increase Urban Heat Island Effect

Parked cars make a significant impact on the surrounding air temperature, contributing to the urban heat island effect, according to a new report.

As an article in Carbon Copy explains, “The report by the City and Environment Interactions showed that thermal and radiative properties of cars, especially when they are stationary, alter urban surface properties and contribute to heat retention in cities.”

According to the research, many of these cars cover up to 10% of road space in busy city centres. This means that the overall “lightness” or “darkness” of a city’s surface changes a lot during the day because of where cars are parked.

The color of the cars plays a major role in how much heat it contributes to the surrounding air. Dark-colored vehicles made the surrounding air 3.8 degrees Celsius hotter than nearby asphalt roads. Light-colored cars did not significantly add to the temperature because they reflect most of the sunlight.

“The researchers pointed out that there is an urgent need to integrate the impact of parked vehicles into UHI studies and urban planning strategies.” Suggested mitigation tactics include color-based parking restrictions and building shading elements in open parking lots.