People in urban areas are at higher risk during heat waves, but NASA data shows...

NASA Climate Change 2 years ago

People in urban areas are at higher risk during heat waves, but NASA data shows how parks and green spaces are cooler than the surrounding areas. This image shows how asphalt and concrete trap heat. The purple and red areas are surfaces that are hotter than 130℉ (54℃). Yellow areas are slightly cooler but still very hot. Some roads and sidewalks got so hot that a few seconds of skin contact could result in second degree burns. This image shows mid-day conditions in Phoenix, AZ on June 19, 2024. It was measured by a NASA instrument called ECOSTRESS, which is aboard the @iss. Data from Landsat and Sentinel-2 helped improve the resolution so that differences can be seen across a smaller area. Information like this can help people and communities plan ways to stay safer in the heat. Image Descriptions: 1: Text reads “Urban Heat Seen From Space” in white at the center of the image with a yellow, red, and purple bar underneath. In the background is a map of urban heat risk in Phoenix. 2: A map of the Phoenix area, where asphalt and concrete surfaces are outlined in yellow, red, or purple lines depending on the surface temperature. Purple represents the hottest. The left side of the image is mostly purple and the right side is mostly red. Several park areas and green spaces have yellow (cooler) surface temperatures. A key at the bottom of the image correlates color to surface temperature and thermal burn risk. 3: The same map of the Phoenix area, but zoomed in over Encanto to highlight areas around green spaces, which are mostly yellow. #Earth #NASA #Climate #Data #Heat #Science

layersDaily Sustainability Digest

Published about 8 hours ago



Sustainable construction is moving from ambition to delivery as policy, procurement and building performance converge around whole life carbon, embodied carbon and life cycle cost.

Record uptake of Boiler Upgrade Scheme vouchers in Britain indicates that heat pumps are entering the mainstream for housing, retrofit and low carbon building specification. Germany’s 2045 phase-out of oil, gas and coal reinforces the direction for net zero carbon buildings across Europe: electrification, energy-efficient buildings and low carbon design are becoming market requirements, not optional sustainability claims.

The industry’s capacity to deliver remains the decisive constraint. Calls for stronger construction training and reskilling underline a core risk for environmental sustainability in construction: policy can drive demand, but competent labour determines whether sustainable building design performs in practice. The post-Building Safety Act regime raises the bar for building control, fire-safety competence and verifiable compliance.

Net zero whole life carbon ambitions depend on robust whole life carbon assessment, lifecycle assessment, sustainable material specification and evidence such as environmental product declarations (EPDs), not on poorly installed systems or untested green building products.

Circular economy in construction is shifting into practical specification. New guidance on reusing doors shows how embodied carbon in materials can be reduced through repeatable procurement, inspection, warranties and end-of-life reuse in construction. The next phase of green construction will rely on circular construction strategies, resource efficiency in construction, low embodied carbon materials and low carbon construction materials as much as new technology. Standards including BREEAM and BREEAM v7 will sharpen expectations for building lifecycle performance, carbon footprint reduction and credible eco-design for buildings. The sector’s credibility now rests on proving that sustainable building practices, eco-friendly construction and carbon neutral construction can withstand the scrutiny of installers, inspectors, clients and quantity surveyors.

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