(EL05) GAF Presents: Cool Communities - Neighborhood Approaches to Mitigating Urban Heat

Extreme heat is the leading weather-related cause of death in the U.S., disproportionately affecting poorer communities and people of color. June 2023 marked the hottest month in Earth’s history, with July 2023 poised to break the record again. An estimated 85% of Americans live in metropolitan areas and many urban areas are experiencing extreme heat and impacts from the “heat island effect.”

In 2022, GAF Cool Community Project was launched as a first-of-its-kind, community-wide research initiative to understand the impacts various cooling solutions have on urban heat and livability (solar-reflective pavement coatings and cool roofing technologies including rooftop solar). The multi-phased project kicked off in July of 2022 and is focused on applying cooling strategies across a 10-square block area in the Los Angeles neighborhood of Pacoima.

The goal is to develop learnings and insights on how other cities can address urban heat at a community-wide level. Come to this session to learn more about the project and intervention including actual information, data and insights on the research. Additionally, we will discuss opportunities to address urban heat and where this effort is going in North America and beyond.