Note that additional links to urban heat island activities at the community and state levels can be found in the Where You Live section.
Basic Information
EPA Sites
Climate Change
EPA provides comprehensive information on the science of climate change, data on greenhouse gas emissions, projected health and environmental effects, U.S. climate policy, economic issues, and actions to reduce emissions.
State and Local Clean Energy-Environment Program
This EPA program helps state and local governments with their clean energy efforts by providing technical assistance, analytical tools, and outreach support.
Other Federal Sites
EPA and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Air Quality Meteorology Developmental Course 
Designed for environmental decision-makers, scientists, technical advisors, and educators, this online course provides the meteorology and air quality background needed to understand meteorological computer models. The site also contains information on understanding and using a computational science approach to studying complex environmental phenomena.
NOAA National Climatic Data Center
The National Climatic Data Center is the largest weather data archive in the world. This site allows users to link to searchable databases offering climate and weather data, including national, state, and local surface temperature information.
United States Geological Survey (USGS) Geography Information
This site provides access to the USGS National Map Viewer, which allows the user to observe global, national, and local level land-use and land-cover information, as well as other geospatial data.
Non-Federal Sites
International Association for Urban Climate (IAUC)
This organization is composed of members with interests and responsibilities in urban climatology, urban meteorology, urban air quality, and the interactions between urban atmospheres and the built-up surface beneath. The IAUC site offers newsletters, listservs, tutorials, and other resources on urban climate.
The National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR)
NCAR was established to engage in research on atmospheric science problems—including climate change, changes in atmospheric composition, and weather formation and forecasting—and their impact on human populations.
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Measuring Heat Islands
Federal Sites
Landsat Program
The Landsat program is a series of Earth-observing satellite missions jointly managed by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the U.S. Geological Survey. These satellites are used to acquire remotely sensed images of the earth's land surface and surrounding coastal regions, and provide information from which researchers can derive surface temperatures and evaluate urban heat islands.
National Weather Service
The National Weather Service is a source for air temperature measurements, climate and weather models, and past and future climate predictions, as well as information on extreme weather and weather safety.
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Heat Island Impacts
EPA Sites
Air Quality Index
This site presents communities with local air quality information, as well as suggestions on what individuals can do to reduce air pollution. It also provides air quality forecasts and publications on major pollutants.
Other Federal Sites
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
The CDC offers information on excessive heat, preventing heat-related illness, guidance on heat stress in the elderly, and other health-related advice.
National Weather Service, Heat Index
The National Weather Service's Heat Index can be used to alert citizens to heat-related health risks based on a combination of temperature and humidity levels. The site also has links to excessive heat outlooks, fatality statistics, historic data on major heat waves, drought information, and advice on how to minimize the health risks of heat waves.
Non-Federal Sites
American Lung Association
This site provides information on the effects that both outdoor and indoor air quality can have on lung function. Also included is information on pollution sources, tips for avoiding exposure, and recommendations on how individuals can prevent pollution.
The American Red Cross
This disaster relief organization provides information on what to do in the event of a heat wave, physiological indicators of heat-related illness and emergencies, and strategies for treatment. The information is also available in Spanish.
Synoptic Climatology Laboratory
This University of Miami laboratory performs research on a variety of applied climatological issues that affect human health. Practitioners of Synoptic Climatology advocate a holistic approach to weather and climate and attempt to characterize the effects of entire weather regimes. Information on Heat-Health Watch Warning Systems is also provided here.
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Heat Island Mitigation
Federal Sites
Department of Energy (DOE) Building Technologies Program
The Office of Building Technology, State and Community Programs hosts this web site, which includes information about energy and buildings for homeowners, commercial building owners and operators, building designers, researchers, and public officials.
DOE Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) Heat Island Group
This site contains general information on the urban heat island effect and mitigation strategies, results of LBNL's heat island and cool roof research, a database comparing various roofing materials, and links to other sites.
Non-Federal Sites
Arizona State University National Center of Excellence
The National Center of Excellence on Sustainable Materials and Renewable Technologies (SMART) Innovations for Urban Climate and Energy facilitates collaborations with industry and various governments to research and develop technologies to mitigate urban heat islands, especially in desert climates, and with an emphasis on pavement technologies.
Green Globes
The Green Globes rating system is an environmental building design and management tool. The site provides an online assessment protocol; rating system; and guidance for green building design, operation, and management. Green Globes provides resources on several types of urban heat island mitigation technologies, including green and cool roofs.
PositivEnergy
This site focuses on community energy conservation and contains links to a number of heat island mitigation projects. It emphasizes actions taking place in California.
U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC)
The USGBC's mission is to accelerate the adoption of green building practices, technologies, policies, and standards. USGBC’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating system includes credits for general heat island mitigation activities (such as shade-tree planting) as well as for installation of green and cool roofs. The USGBC site provides publications and research on green building design, including cost and energy benefit analyses of employing green building technologies. USGBC also provides green building toolkits for government agencies and schools.
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Trees and Vegetation
EPA Sites
Green Landscaping: Green Acres
EPA’s Natural Landscaping Workgroup in Chicago created this site to provide information on green landscaping in the Great Lakes region. It describes how to get started with native planting, discusses the benefits of green landscaping, and provides case studies.
Managing Wet Weather with Green Infrastructure
Green infrastructure is a cost-effective and environmentally friendly approach to wet-weather management. The site describes green infrastructure design options, including planting trees and other vegetation, to reduce stormwater runoff and water pollution.
SunWise Program
The SunWise program is an environmental and health education program that aims to teach people how to protect themselves from overexposure to the sun. SunWise promotes a variety of actions people can take to reduce exposure to harmful UV radiation; seeking shade is just one of them.
Other Federal Sites
ecoSmart
The Center for Urban Forest Research, with support from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service, publishes Web-based software designed to evaluate the economic trade-offs between different landscape practices on residential parcels. The program estimates the environmental and cost impacts of strategic tree placement, rainfall management, and fire prevention practices.
i-Tree
Developed by the USDA Forest Service, the i-Tree software suite is available free of charge on CD-ROM by request. The software uses data gathered by the community to provide an understanding of urban forest structure, information on management concerns, cost-benefit information, and storm damage assessment. The software allows for analyses of a single street tree, a neighborhood, or an entire urban forest.
Urban Forest Effects Model (UFORE)
UFORE is a USDA Forest Service tool that uses tree inventory data to model and quantify urban forest structure (e.g., species composition, tree density, tree health, leaf area, leaf and tree biomass, species diversity), environmental effects, and value to communities.
Urban Natural Resources Institute (UNRI)
UNRI, an initiative of the USDA Forest Service Northern Station, serves as a science-based source for information and answers to questions on urban forestry science and management. The site provides monthly webcasts, newsletters, and other resources.
USDA Forest Service, Home Page
Established in 1905, the USDA Forest Service manages public lands in national forests and grasslands and also has an urban and community forest program. The USDA Forest Service has many resources on trees and vegetation, including tools, publications, regional programs, and research, some of which are listed above and below in this section.
USDA Forest Service Publications
This site provides publications on urban forestry, covering topics such as air quality and greenhouse gases, energy conservation, and water quality.
USDA Forest Service Urban Forestry Carbon Storage and Sequestration Spreadsheets
The USDA Forest Service has developed spreadsheets to estimate the carbon storage and sequestration rates for sugar maple and white pine. These spreadsheets provide a rough approximation of tree carbon storage and sequestration rates based on user inputs of tree growth rates.
USDA Forest Service National Urban and Community Forest Program
This program helps state forestry agencies, local and tribal governments, and the private sector manage trees and forests in urban communities. The program's goals are to build awareness of the need for urban forestry; reach out to underserved communities; create partnerships between business, government and nonprofit organizations; and manage urban forests in a sustainable manner. Regional affiliates such as Urban Forestry South also carry out these goals.
USDA PLANTS Database
This site provides a database of information about U.S. plants, with an advanced search capability by name; location; and environmental variables, such as soil type, fire tolerance, and flower color.
USDA Western Center for Urban Forest Research and Education
This site includes urban forest guidelines for California, a comprehensive study of the Sacramento urban forest, air quality and energy reduction benefits of urban forests, and evaluations of parking lot shade tree ordinances.
Non-Federal Sites
American Forests
This site offers information about the benefits of trees and tree planting, a regional tree guide for developing appropriate planting strategies, and American Forest's CITYGreen software for calculating the economic benefits of trees in urban settings.
American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA)
This professional association for landscape architects hosts a website that includes a search tool to locate ASLA firms. ASLA is developing a sustainability rating system for landscaped sites, comparable to the U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standard for buildings, as well as regional guides to best practices.
Arbor Day Foundation
The Arbor Day Foundation provides information about local tree planting programs and events, along with resources for environmental educators and parents. The Tree Guide Advanced Search houses a database of trees that can be searched by variables such as sun exposure, hardiness zone, tree shape, and height.
Cornell University, Recommended Urban Trees
Cornell University’s Urban Horticulture Institute provides a description of recommended urban trees for U.S. Department of Agriculture hardiness zones 1-6, listed by tree size and planting conditions.
International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) Guidelines for Developing and Evaluating Tree Ordinances
This site provides a variety of tools and resources for citizens and local governments interested in developing, revising, or evaluating local tree ordinances.
ISA Tree Selection
This site provides an overview of variables to consider, including tree function, form, size, and site conditions, when selecting trees for planting.
National Alliance for Community Trees (ACT)
ACT is a nonprofit organization that promotes urban and community forestry through citizen action. The site provides access to more than 50 local urban forestry efforts. ACT publishes a free electronic newsletter called NeighborWoods Network Update.
Selectree Database
This database provides a tree species index compiled by the Urban Forest Ecosystems Institute at California Polytechnic State University. Users can search for trees that meet specific criteria, such as exposure, salinity tolerance, soil moisture, and longevity. The database has an emphasis on southern California cities.
Sustainable Urban Landscape Information Series
This University of Minnesota series covers urban landscape design, plant selection, installation, and maintenance.
The Trans-Agency Resources for Environmental and Economic Sustainability (T.R.E.E.S.) Project
Created by a coalition of government agencies and environmentalists, this project offers an integrated approach to resolving issues of drought, flooding, air and water pollution, landfill closures, high energy costs, youth unemployment, and urban blight. The site discusses how tree planting can address many of Los Angeles's environmental and social problems.
Treelink
The Treelink Resource Center contains information on urban forestry, with an emphasis on tree care, maintenance, and management. The site uses forums, educational materials, and links to other urban forestry organizations to educate visitors about urban forestry.
Tree Benefit Estimator
This application, developed by the Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD), presents a web-based method for estimating the amount of energy savings (KWh saved), capacity savings (KW saved) and carbon and CO2 sequestration (lbs) that result from planting mature trees in urban and suburban settings.
Urban Forestry Index
The Urban Forestry Index is a database of current and historic urban forestry and arboriculture publications and other media compiled by the USDA Forest Service, the University of Minnesota, and Treelink, with the goal of increasing access to urban forestry material and preventing duplication of products.
Urban Tree Cover and Air Quality Planning
This site, funded in part by the USDA Forest Service, evaluates options for including urban forest initiatives in air quality plans, particularly State Implementation Plans.
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Green Roofs
EPA Sites
Green Roof Research Highlights
This site provides a case study in which EPA is cooperating with Penn State University in testing green roof technologies. In this project, risk management researchers are evaluating performance data that could be used to enhance municipal stormwater management planning.
Managing Wet Weather with Green Infrastructure
EPA's Office of Water highlights design options, including green roofs, to reduce stormwater runoff and water pollution.
Non-Federal Sites
Greenroofs.com
This commercial site provides information on green roof design, from intensive to extensive applications. It also contains case studies, a list of product suppliers, and an International Green Roofs Projects Database.
Green Roofs for Healthy Cities
Green Roofs for Healthy Cities is a non-profit coalition of private sector firms founded in 1999. Its site contains recent research, information on green roof demonstration projects, and additional resources. The organization organizes the annual Greening Rooftops for Sustainable Communities conference, an international forum on green roof design, policy, research, and networking.
International Green Roof Association (IGRA)
IGRA is a global network for the promotion and dissemination of information on green roof topics and green roof technology. It facilitates the sharing knowledge and experiences in the field of green roof technology and supports local green roof campaigns.
Pennsylvania State University Green Roof Research Center
The Green Roof Research Center gathers data on the efficacy and potential of green roofs to mitigate stormwater runoff, capture energy savings, and buffer acid rain. The site highlights current research projects at Pennsylvania State University and provides a comprehensive list of links to related organizations and businesses.
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Cool Roofs
Federal Sites
Department of Energy (DOE) Cool Roof Calculator
This calculator estimates cooling and heating savings for flat roofs with non-black surfaces. This version of the calculator is for small and medium-sized facilities that purchase electricity without a demand charge based on peak monthly load.
DOE Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory Heat Island Group: Cool Roofing Database
This database displays research results on the solar reflectance and thermal emittances of various roofing products, allowing comparison between cool roofing materials and traditional options.
DOE Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) Building Technology Center
The ORNL Building Technology Center is devoted to developing technologies that improve the energy efficiency and environmental compatibility of residential and commercial buildings. This site contains research information on both the building envelope and its constituent materials. Fact sheets and other publications also are available.
ENERGY STAR
ENERGY STAR is a voluntary labeling program jointly sponsored by EPA and the Department of Energy. The site identifies and promotes a wide range of energy-efficient strategies and products, including cool roof products.
ENERGY STAR Roofing Comparison Calculator
This online tool allows users to estimate the energy and money that can be saved by using ENERGY STAR roofing products on air-conditioned buildings of at least 3,000 square feet (280 square meters). The calculator estimates savings of typical building types with non-metallic-surfaced roofs under typical weather conditions.
Non-Federal Sites
American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE)
ASHRAE is an international membership organization of engineers that has developed energy-efficient design standards that provide minimum requirements for both commercial and residential buildings; the standards include credits pertaining to cool roofing.
American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) International
ASTM International is a nonprofit organization that provides a forum for the development and publication of voluntary consensus standards for materials, products, systems, and services. To evaluate how "cool" a specific roofing product is, ASTM International has validated test methods to measure solar reflectance and thermal emittance.
California Cool Roofs Information
This site, affiliated with the California Energy Commission (CEC), contains information on the benefits and types of cool roofs, cool roof projects, and related resources.
Cool Colors Project
Cool Colors, funded by the CEC, is a research collaboration between the CEC, DOE Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, DOE Oak Ridge National Laboratory, and industry partners. The project seeks to create more cool roofing products for the sloped roof, or residential, market.
Cool Metal Roofing Coalition
The Coalition educates architects, building owners, specifiers, code and standards officials, and other stakeholders about the sustainable, energy-related benefits of cool metal roofing.
Cool Roof Rating Council (CRRC)
Created in 1998 as a nonprofit, educational organization, CRRC's members include manufacturers, utilities, researchers, and consultants. CRRC maintains a product rating program and associated product directory.
Florida Solar Energy Center
Administered by the University of Central Florida, the Center serves as Florida's renewable energy and energy efficiency research, training, testing, and certification center. The Center's site posts studies on cool and green roofs.
National Roofing Contractors Association
This trade association includes roofing, roof deck, and waterproofing contractors and industry-related associate members. It provides technical and safety information, news, and calendars of industry events.
Roof Coatings Manufacturers Association (RCMA)
RCMA is a national trade association representing the manufacturers of cold-applied coatings and cements for roofing and waterproofing. It promotes the availability and adaption of energy-efficient materials.
Roof Consultants Institute (RCI)
This international, nonprofit association includes professional roof consultants, architects, and engineers. It hosts trade conventions and develops standards for professional qualifications.
Single Ply Roofing Industry (SPRI)
SPRI is a trade organization representing sheet membrane and component suppliers to the commercial roofing industry. It provides information about and forums to discuss industry practices, workforce training, and other concerns.
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Cool Pavements
EPA Sites
Cool Pavements Workshop
EPA organized this stakeholder meeting in June 2005 to discuss the current state of cool pavements, identify opportunities for organizations to establish cool paving research or implementation projects, and develop strategies to assess costs and benefits and, where feasible, increase their use.
Other Federal Sites
Department of Energy (DOE) Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory Heat Island Group: Cool Pavements
The Heat Island Group provides information about cool paving and other heat island mitigation measures. The Cool Pavements section of the site describes benefits of this technology; published reports on cool pavements are included under Recent Publications.
Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Office of Pavement Technologies
The Office of Pavement Technologies provides resources and publications, technical guidance,, workshops and training, and other related information on asphalt, concrete, and other paving technologies.
FHWA Office of Planning, Environment, & Realty
The Office of Planning, Environment, & Realty site provides comprehensive information on transportation planning and the environment.
FHWA Stormwater Best Management Practices
This site includes information on porous pavements as a best management practice for addressing stormwater.
Non-Federal Sites
Arizona State University National Center of Excellence
The National Center of Excellence on Sustainable Materials and Renewable Technologies (SMART) Innovations for Urban Climate and Energy facilitates collaborations with industry and various governments to research and develop technologies to mitigate urban heat islands, especially in desert climates, and with an emphasis on pavement technologies.
American Concrete Pavement Association (ACPA)
ACPA is a national association that represents concrete pavement contractors, cement companies, equipment and material manufacturers, and suppliers. This site contains research on portland cement concrete pavements and provides information about related technical and policy issues.
Association of Metropolitan Planning Organizations (AMPO)
AMPO is a nonprofit, membership organization established in 1994 to serve the needs and interests of metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs) nationwide. The site provides information for local MPOs and discussions of the environmental and other issues faced by MPOs.
The Center for Environmental Excellence
This site, hosted by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) was developed in cooperation with the Federal Highway Administration to promote environmental stewardship and to encourage innovative ways to streamline the transportation delivery process.
Green Highways Partnership
The Green Highways Partnership is a voluntary, public/private initiative that uses concepts such as integrated planning, regulatory flexibility, and market-based rewards to incorporate environmental streamlining and stewardship into all aspects of the highway lifecycle. Porous pavements and other cool paving technologies are among the technologies encouraged by the Partnership.
International Stormwater Best Management Practices Database
This database was developed by the Urban Water Resources Research Council of the American Society of Civil Engineers under a cooperative agreement with EPA. The database provides access to best management practice performance data in a standardized format for over 190 best management practices.
Low Impact Development Center's Low Impact Development Urban Design Tools
The Low Impact Development Center, Inc. is a nonprofit organization dedicated to research, development, and training for water resource and natural resource protection issues. This site provides information on stormwater management techniques, including the use of permeable paving materials.
National Asphalt Pavement Association (NAPA)
NAPA is a trade association that represents Hot Mix Asphalt producers and paving contractors. This site contains information regarding asphalt production, use, recycling, and other considerations.
Nonpoint Education for Municipal Officials Project (NEMO)
NEMO is an educational program for local officials that addresses the relationship between land use and natural resource protection. The web site provides information about how heat island mitigation strategies such as permeable paving and planting trees can improve local water quality.
Portland Cement Association (PCA)
Founded in 1916, PCA represents cement companies in the United States and Canada. It conducts market development, engineering, research, education, and public affairs programs. This website provides general information about concrete pavements.
Transportation Research Board (TRB)
TRB is one of the divisions of the National Research Council— a private, nonprofit institution that is the principal operating agency of the National Academies in providing services to the government, the public, and the scientific and engineering communities. TRB conducts research on transportation and paving technologies, including exploring the benefits of cool pavements.
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