Despite our surprisingly mild summer — the rest of the country was sweltering and experiencing prolonged record-high temperatures — we cannot expect such moderate summer weather in future years. The challenge is not just to keep households and offices cool; we must also address rising energy consumption from air conditioning (AC) along with cooling our streets and neighborhoods. This means countering the urban heat island effect, where buildings and streets absorb and retain heat.
Planting an abundance of trees throughout a metropolitan area reduces outdoor temperatures by 3.5-5.5 degrees Fahrenheit. Creating pocket parks, mini-forests, rooftop gardens, and vegetated facades can all be a part of greening urban areas. Beyond the relief from intense heat, there are benefits to public health, reduction in energy consumption, and improvement in overall well-being. Exposure to trees has been proven to reduce stress, improve one’s mood, lower blood pressure, increase physical activity, and enhance immune system functioning. Green corridors with tree canopies also increase bird, beneficial insect, and wildlife populations; reduce pollution; and make communities safer.
The federal government has earmarked more than a billion dollars in the Inflation Reduction Act to plant trees in urban areas across the country. Government officials are convinced that this low-cost approach will increase climate resilience and strengthen local economies.