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 21 days ago



Financial institutions are accelerating sustainable construction by aligning lending with measurable environmental performance. Santander UK’s decision to adapt mortgage models for Octopus Energy’s Zero Bills homes integrates credit policy with energy-efficient buildings, translating net zero carbon ambitions into mainstream financial metrics. This shift signals the emergence of whole life carbon assessment as a determinant in property valuation and positions embodied carbon and life cycle cost analysis as standard tools of risk management across the sector.

Digital transformation is amplifying the movement. The Monklands digital hospital project in Scotland demonstrates how offsite manufacturing, lifecycle assessment and connected data platforms enhance building lifecycle performance, minimise waste, and verify embodied carbon in materials. Durham’s adoption of digital planning and assessment tools reflects a broader drive toward resource efficiency in construction and environmental sustainability in construction. Together these initiatives redefine sustainable building design by embedding whole life carbon accountability into design and delivery workflows.

Policy remains an enabling force but the centre of momentum is shifting from government mandates to operational proof. A renewed national emphasis on green affordability and the integration of social equity with decarbonising the built environment are reinforcing the transition toward net zero whole life carbon outcomes. These developments illustrate a maturing circular economy in construction where sustainable building practices, low carbon design and eco-design for buildings converge to deliver verifiable carbon footprint reduction. The industry’s direction is now measurable—kilograms of CO₂, minutes saved, resources reused—evidence that green construction is evolving from aspiration to tangible low carbon building performance.

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