{"id":10563,"date":"2022-01-24T13:12:54","date_gmt":"2022-01-24T13:12:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.answerconnect.com\/blog\/?p=10563"},"modified":"2025-02-06T15:47:37","modified_gmt":"2025-02-06T15:47:37","slug":"urban-heat-island-effect-texas-trees","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.answerconnect.com\/blog\/mission-values\/urban-heat-island-effect-texas-trees\/","title":{"rendered":"Tackling the urban heat island effect with Texas Trees: AnswerConnect\u2019s January tree-planting partner"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

To start off 2022, AnswerConnect joined forces with Texas Trees Foundation<\/a> to tackle the urban heat island effect. Across the United States, many big cities have been hit with record-breaking heatwaves over these past few years. Higher temperatures in urban areas are in part caused by the urban heat island effect when big cities trap hot air in areas with less green space. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

So what can we do to reduce the urban heat effect? Find out more below:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Urban heat island defined<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The urban heat island (UHI) effect<\/a> is a phenomenon that occurs in highly populated and industrialized cities, where the temperature is hotter than that of its surrounding rural areas. These areas are called \u201cislands\u201d because their concentrated structures and limited greenery trap hot air in that particular area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to Texas Trees<\/a>, \u201can urban heat island occurs when impervious surfaces, like roads, buildings, and sidewalks, trap and hold heat\u201d which contributes to higher temperatures in big cities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A cyclical effect occurs as individuals use more energy to reduce the heat. Air pollution increases as people use more air conditioners and industrial cooling systems. In turn, the heat island effect gets more severe! So how do we reduce these elevated temperatures?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The severity of urban heat islands<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Texas Trees Foundation’s findings in the 2017 Dallas Urban Heat Island Effect report<\/a> highlighted three key findings from the year-long study:<\/p>\n\n\n\n