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The surprisingly simple way cities could save people from extreme heat

Summary

Cities are increasingly vulnerable to extreme heat due to the urban heat-island effect, which exacerbates temperatures with heat-absorbing materials like concrete and asphalt. Cool roofs, which use reflective coatings or shingles to bounce sunlight back into space, present a simple and effective solution. A recent study found that widespread adoption of cool roofs could significantly lower temperatures, especially in densely populated areas. While other interventions like green roofs and urban vegetation also offer cooling benefits, cool roofs were shown to be the most effective in reducing urban temperatures. Cities like Los Angeles have already implemented policies requiring cool roofs on new constructions, demonstrating the potential of such measures to mitigate the impacts of extreme heat.

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