THE FOLLOWING STRATEGIES REDUCE HEAT ISLAND EFFECTS ASSOCIATED WITH NEW CONSTRUCTIONS. THESE STRATEGIES ARE SPECIFICALLY LINKED TO MATERIALS USED ON THE SITE GROUND AND THE BUILDING ROOF TO KEEP THE SITE COOLER, OFFSET CO2 WARMING, AND REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF HEAT TRANSFERRED TO INTERIORS.
| REFLECTIVE PAVING
| VEGETATED SURFACES
| PERVIOUS COVER
| MAXIMIZE OPEN SPACE
| SHADING DEVICES ON SITE
| UNDERGROUND PARKING
| REFLECTIVE ROOFING MATERIALS
In a climate such as Austin, reducing the heat island effect is extremely important. Because of the city's growing density, each building's contribution to reducing its heat island effect helps reduce the overall impact on the urban temperature and the energy use needed to cool buildings especially during summer months.
USGBC addresses heat island effect through both roof and non-roof material choices. These are small decisions that greatly impact the temperature of the site and minimize the project's effects on its microclimate.
