Green solutions against the heat: new strategies for our cities!

Green solutions against the heat: new strategies for our cities!

With the first warm days, it becomes clear that the temperatures in our cities rise. This phenomenon, known as a "heat island effect", ensures considerable challenges in urbanization, especially in the hot summer months. According to SWR, reports that the inner cities are particularly affected and the air temperatures there are perceived significantly higher than the official measurements indicate it. The current climate crisis not only brings with it longer dry periods, but also increasing temperatures that require an additional need for action.

A reason for this high heat load is the massive sealing of surfaces and the lack of greening. The sealing rate leads to an accumulation of heat and is in direct contradiction to a cooling effect that green areas and large trees can offer. "Large trees not only donate shade, they are also crucial to lower the air temperature," said expert Bernhard Lenz in an interview. In order for the new trees to provide the desired cooling, they must be supplied with 100 to 200 liters of water every week in the first two years after planting.

cool green for hot cities

In order to combat the consequences of the urban heat island phenomenon, measures such as the promotion of green areas are of the highest priority. In Ludwigsburg, for example, the conversion of the Arsenalplatz into a green oasis was just completed. Such projects are not only important for the urban climate, they also offer a balance for the dense development, as reported on climate conversion.at. Parking systems, Gennant "Park Cool Islands" (PCI), are particularly suitable for creating temperature differences between urban and surrounding areas. Studies show that larger parks have a stronger cooling effect, while compact green areas are often more effective than irregular systems.

The flora therefore has a key role in the city climate. Trees with a higher leaf surface index (LAI) are particularly important for cooling. English elms or maple -leafy plane trees are true power packages, since they efficiently contribute to temperature regulation due to their shadow and evaporation. However, the benefits of these trees go beyond the mere cooling: they also reduce the energy consumption of the adjacent buildings by donating shadows in a natural way.

The role of green facade

But not only the existing areas have to be greened, building facades also offer potential. The cooling effect of these facade greening can be up to 5-6 degrees Celsius, which not only lowers the surface temperature of the buildings, but also influences the interior temperature. This could significantly reduce the need for air conditioning systems. Funding systems help to support the renovation, even if owners are not obliged to take these measures. New buildings are often more flexible because they can be easily adapted to greening requirements.

The city climate is strongly shaped by natural and anthropogenic factors. The conditions are often a mixture of dense development, lack of vegetation and emissions of industry and transport that affect air traffic and air circulation. The World Meteorological Organization describes this as a changed local climate, which can cause health damage and higher mortality rates. A look at the forecasts for Chinese cities shows that a dramatic increase in mortality can be expected by 2060 due to increasing temperatures. In this country, there is a wide range of opportunities ahead of us to make our cities more climate -friendly and livable.

What will go next? Green areas and what role you play to keep our cities livable in times of climate change are essential questions that affect us all. The challenges are great, but with a clever procedure and the commitment of the citizens can be achieved.

For more information about greening effects in cities and their importance, you can report the reports on swr , climate change and wikipedia read.