Paved lots and abandoned buildings can raise surrounding surface temperatures as much as 20 degrees, according to a new study.
A new study from Texas A&M University reveals the impact that vacant and abandoned lots have on temperature in surrounding neighborhoods in Houston, Texas.
While lots with vegetation can help cool surrounding areas, paved lots and abandoned buildings can raise surrounding surface temperatures by as much as 20 degrees Fahrenheit. “Houston alone contains roughly 45,000 acres of vacant land and 10,000 acres of abandoned buildings, according to the study.”
Increased heat has an impact on people living in and walking through these areas, forcing households to spend more on cooling and straining the power grid and putting transit commuters in danger of heat-related illnesses.
Dr. Dingding Ren, who led the study, says “Low-income people are sometimes forced to walk or bike in this extreme heat with zero shading, and over time, being exposed like this every summer is not healthy.” Ren recommends that cities like Houston, one of the 10 hottest in the nation, invest in green infrastructure, trees, and green spaces can help reduce urban heat and public health risks.
FULL STORY: Abandoned land drives dangerous heat in Houston, Texas A&M study finds
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