Battling the Heat Island Effect with a Roof

The heat island effect, in simple terms, is a phenomenon where urban areas are significantly warmer than their surrounding rural areas. This is primarily caused by the overabundance of concrete and asphalt (which hold heat in them and don't radiate it back out to the atmosphere), and the lack of "green material", which is essential to the movement of water in the water cycle, as well as the respiration of carbon dioxide. The less trees and more buildings you have, the greater temperature an urban environment will be.

Here are two ways cities can fight the heat island effect, just by adding a little something extra to their roofs.

1. Reflective Roofs.

Having dark roofs on every building in the city only increases the amount of heat that is being absorbed. Many cities are putting into place white or reflective roofs to help increase the city's albedo.

2. Green Roofs

Not only are "green roofs" aesthetically pleasing, but they are excellent at mitigating the effects of the heat island effect. They help cool buildings during hot summers and improve the air quality by removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere through respiration.

To read more about the heat island effect, reflective or green roofs, visit:

EPA: Heat Island Effect

Science 2.0: White roofs could reduce urban heat island effect by 33 percent

MSNBC: Green roofs popping up in big cities