EPA, Arizona State fight 'heat islands'

[phantom power]

This is a strange little write-up. Using "sustainable materials" and "renewable technologies" doesn't in any way guarantee that you've changed the thermal behavior of an urban area. Probably just another example of the terrible state of science reporting.

TEMPE, Ariz., April 24 (UPI) -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is joining Arizona State University in an effort to mitigate the effects of so-called urban heat islands.

The research, aimed at lowering energy consumption, is being conducted at the new National Center of Excellence on Sustainable Materials And Renewable Technology (SMART) Innovations for Urban Climate and Energy, located at Arizona State University. Center researchers are developing a new generation of SMART innovations with EPA funding.

"Constructing our cities with sustainable materials and renewable technologies helps keep them cool and provide cost-effective health, energy, air and water quality benefits," said EPA Acting Assistant Administrator Bill Wehrum.

The "urban heat island effect" describes a condition of abnormally elevated temperatures that urban areas experience compared with more rural surroundings, the EPA said.

During the summer, higher surface and air temperatures caused by human-built structures can increase discomfort and risk human health. It also can raise air-conditioner use, risk power outages due to peak electricity demands, worsen air quality by promoting ground-level ozone formation, and impair water quality by heating storm water runoff, causing thermal shock for aquatic life.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/upi/index.php?feed=Science&article=UPI-1-20060424-14010300-bc-us-heatislands.xml

[Roland99]

1. I read a few yrs ago that Phoenix's avg temp rose 10F over 40yrs due to

the expansion of concrete and such.


Chicago started doing something about it a while back but not sure how it's taken off:
http://www.newcolonist.com/chi_sus.html

[phantom power]

2. Yes, it's generally 5-10 degrees cooler outside the metro area.

Of course, every year there are fewer and fewer places in the valley that aren't metro area.

[NMDemDist2]

3. when I moved here 10 years ago you could feel the temp drop 2 miles

south of my house at night in the convertible

now, no temp drop until you are 10 miles north of my house

I'm moving this summer

[Pooka Fey]

4. Sustainable materials renewable technologies BLAH BLAH BLAH

"Constructing our cities with sustainable materials and renewable technologies helps keep them cool and provide cost-effective health, energy, air and water quality benefits," said EPA Acting Assistant Administrator Bill Wehrum.

And 2 weeks ago The AZ Republic ran a Sunday front page story about the upcoming Prescott to Phoenix to Tucson "Megalopolis" - we will be the next American Super-City - one giant 500 mile urban heat magnet. It doesn't take a genius to figure this out - this place has no future. And it's really a pity because I've never seen a more beautiful, lush green desert than the Sonoran. It used to take my breathe away - fragrant green sagebrush, blueish or reddish grey rock formations, flowering cacti under a turquoise sky.... I came from L.A. (sorry native Arizonans) in '92. Really this place was magical. Too bad we had to bury it under Mc-Mansions. Watching the relentless construction projects is like watching a rape in progress. I'm moving on - I have no choice but to take one more summer (which has now lengthened from 5.5 to 7 months), but it will be my last.

[Javaman]

5. As global temps crank up to impossible temps, AZ could become...

an empty city. However, if they start now, they could become the hotbed, (pardon the pun) for solar power. In my Sci-Fi mind, have all of AZ covered in solar panels, the shade from the panels will cool off the ground but at the same time, providing power for the nation.