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
Compressed earth block projects in Kenya’s drylands are signalling a shift towards sustainable construction that balances material performance with environmental sustainability in construction. By replacing kiln‑fired bricks and cement with locally produced low embodied carbon materials, these buildings achieve reduced embodied carbon while enhancing thermal comfort through passive design. The combination of thermal mass and vapour‑open walls supports sustainable building design adapted to warmer climates and delivers measurable gains in lifecycle assessment and life cycle cost efficiency.
As whole life carbon and embodied carbon in materials become central to regulation and procurement, codification and quality assurance will dictate how rapidly such natural materials scale to mainstream use. Compressed earth blocks in Kenya exemplify how local innovation aligns with sustainability targets and social benefits for communities adapting to climate stress.
European policy is steering the supply chain towards a circular economy in construction. Tighter controls on plastic imports are designed to foster a stable market for compliant recycled polymers and strengthen traceability. For manufacturers pursuing higher recycled content, this supports circular construction strategies and improves environmental product declarations (EPDs). For specifiers and project teams, it provides a stronger evidence base for whole life carbon assessment within sustainable building practices and reinforces the commitment to resource efficiency in construction.
The UK’s accelerating offshore wind capacity, now exceeding 16GW, deepens the transition towards net zero carbon buildings and reduces the carbon footprint of construction by decarbonising energy supply. As sites electrify and equipment integrates renewable sources, the alignment between energy‑efficient buildings and carbon neutral construction grows closer. This shift enables data‑driven evaluation of whole life carbon performance and encourages contracting models that value carbon intensity alongside cost, advancing low carbon design and net zero objectives across the sector.
In alpine zones and high‑risk regions, the integration of climate‑informed planning, geotechnical monitoring and enforceable safety zones underscores the need to view climate adaptation as a core aspect of sustainable architecture. Infrastructure such as Spain’s high‑speed rail demonstrates how green construction combined with whole life carbon accounting can deliver deep emissions cuts while improving resilience. The global construction industry must merge such systemic decarbonisation with eco‑design for buildings, green building materials and sustainable material specification, ensuring that every project contributes to long‑term building lifecycle performance and to decarbonising the built environment.
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