HARC - Dallas Urban Heat Island Study
Dallas Urban Heat Island Study
Identifying and Evaluating Heat Island Reduction Opportunities in Dallas, Texas

EPA Region 6 and EPA's Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards recently selected the city of Dallas to participate in its Sustainable Skylines Initiative, a joint venture that involves working with cities and to help them complete multiple multi-year projects to reduce air emissions as well as obtain s energy and environmental benefits. Dallas has expressed strong interest in pursuing cost-effective heat island reduction activities, which may include extensive urban reforestation efforts, initiating a pilot project for rooftop gardens, or green roofs; developing incentive programs for reflective roofs, or cool roofs; and identifying opportunities to advance heat island reduction in existing ordinances and codes. The project will include:
  1. Initial assessment of heat island reduction opportunities: HARC will work with participants to develop an initial list of strategies the City of Dallas could pursue to mitigate the urban heat island effects.
  2. Develop summary report on selected opportunities: In consultation with participants, further details on benefits and costs of a subset of options will be developed and summarized in report form.
  3. Urban tree canopy assessment: The Dallas urban tree canopy will be analyzed and possible forestation opportunities identified. Ordinances that affect the urban tree canopy will be reviewed as part of this task.
  4. Briefing materials: Presentation materials will be developed on Dallas urban heat island effects and the various mitigation strategies.
Links

For more information on this project contact:
Page Updated/Reviewed: 06/08/2007 8:04 AM