Positive Effects of Vegetation: Urban Heat Island (UHI) and Green Roofs

Susca, Tiziana; Gaffin, S. R.; Dell'Osso, G. R.

Abstract

This paper attempts to evaluate the positive effects of vegetation with a multi-scale approach: an urban and a building scale. Monitoring the urban heat island in four areas of New York City, we have found an average of 2 °C difference of temperatures between the most and the least vegetated areas, ascribable to the substitution of vegetation with man-made building materials. At micro-scale, we have assessed the effect of surface albedo on climate through the use of a climatological model. Then, using the CO(2) equivalents as indicators of the impact on climate, we have compared the surface albedo, and the construction, replacement and use phase of a black, a white and a green roof. By our analyses, we found that both the white and the green roofs are less impactive than the black one; with the thermal resistance, the biological activity of plants and the surface albedo playing a crucial role.

• Presentation Conference Type: Presentation / Talk
• Conference Name: Urban Environmental Pollution 2010. Overcoming Obstacles to Sustainability and Quality of Life
• Start Date: Jun 20, 2010
• End Date: Jun 23, 2010
• Deposit Date: Jun 22, 2018
• Keywords: Urban heat island, green roofs, albedo,
• Public URL: http://researchrepository.napier.ac.uk/Output/1181041