Urban Land Institute’s Post

We can't help you beat the heat today, but Urban Land Institute's Randall Lewis Center for Sustainability in Real Estate has some great strategies for developers, owners, and communities to beat the heat over the next 5, 10, 50, and 100 years. Check out our research and toolkits below.

Extreme heat is a silent killer, but in cities, we can have a huge impact on how bad it gets by making smart design choices: add vegetation, shade, water features, and reflective materials, and you can drop temperatures by a lot more than you might think. Cities filled with these features are also much more fun to live in, as you can see in the images below! Check out our resources on extreme heat below and learn how we can turn a deadly heat wave back into a safe summer's day.

Heat resilience is one of the many solutions to improving comfort within our cities.

UHI effects are on my mind as heat waves become more prevalent across the world. This is a great article about different ways cities can combat extreme heat and become more resilient as our planet changes.

"...specifiers, despite the dangerously hot summers of recent years, often adopt a ‘cold climate’ outlook and consider shading products superfluous." As our climate changes and building fabric standards rise, so must our design approach. Great guidance document attached to this article looking at 19 different shading devices to help prevent overheating in buildings. #Overheating #SustainableArchitecture #ClimateAdaptation https://lnkd.in/e5UcbJPb

Have you ever noticed how much hotter it feels in the city compared to the surrounding areas? 🌡️ This phenomenon is known as the Urban Heat Island effect, where urban areas experience higher temperatures than their rural counterparts due to human activities and urban development. 🏗️ #SustainableArchitecture #GreenBuilding #EnergyEfficiency #RenewableEnergy The Urban Heat Island effect is caused by factors such as the heat-absorbing properties of concrete and asphalt, lack of green spaces, and increased energy consumption from buildings and vehicles. 🚗🏢 This can lead to a variety of negative impacts, including increased energy costs, air pollution, and heat-related illnesses. ☀️ #Passive Design #Eco-friendly Materials #CircularEconomy #ZeroWaste #NetZeroBuildings To mitigate the Urban Heat Island effect, cities can implement strategies such as increasing green spaces, planting trees, using cool roofing materials, and promoting energy-efficient buildings. 🌳🏡 These measures not only help reduce temperatures in urban areas but also improve air quality and overall quality of life for residents. 🌿 #BioclimaticDesign #GreenRoof #SolarPower #NaturalVentilation #WaterConservation #LowCarbon Footprint #Sustainable Urban Planning #BuildingEnvelope #DaylightHarvesting #RainwaterHarvesting #LifeCycleAssessment #SmartBuildingSystems Animated by: UGREEN

How can businesses protect their people and operations against climate hazards such as more severe heatwaves? Great article by one of our ZRS climate specialists.

Yesterday, my phone showed 45°, but the news said 50° ! It got me thinking: how are we going to ensure the comfort and sustainability of our properties in such extreme temperatures? Homeowners and investors must adapt to rising temperatures to maintain property value. Here are some practical solutions for both alike: For Homeowners: → Cool Roofs: Reflective materials can reduce indoor temperatures. → Thick Blinds and Lined Curtains: This keeps your home naturally cooler. → Plant shade trees: This age-old solution keeps your whole property cool. → Smart Thermostats: Adjusts temperature efficiently, saving energy and money. → Energy audits: For identifying heat leaks and areas where air conditioning can be minimised. For Investors: → Cooling Architecture: Invest in designs that minimise the need for mechanical cooling.  → Pools: In hotter areas, pools increase property value and appeal. → Sustainable Building Materials: Invest in eco-friendly materials to boost long-term ROI. Remember, the impact on real estate goes beyond comfort; it's about economic sense and sustainability. The long-term savings and appeal will be substantial. #extremeheat #realestate

The world needs a shift to deep renovation now! Want to know what’s the difference between deep vs shallow renovations? Shallow renovations only scratch the surface, but deep renovations transform for a sustainable future. 🌱 Deep renovations improve energy efficiency. 🌱 Deep renovations reduce environmental impact. 🌱 Deep renovation enhance overall building performance. At BuildUp, we believe that offsite construction and deep retrofitting are very effective to achieve net-zero buildings by 2050. Let's build a better, greener world, one renovation at a time. #offsiteconstruction #energyefficiency #energeticrenovation #sustainableconstruction #deeprenovation #buildupoffsite

Is it time for a different approach to be considered for refurbishment projects, with so many buildings operating with poor air tightness and insulating values, falling much below our modern building standards, could MMC unlock the future for improving these standards on a large scale. The industry has seen so many companies fail to prove the viability of MMC to influence wholesale changes to our new build approach. But Is this the opportunity to make MMC work for the mass!