CHC Sustainable Societies Showcasing Research

Mitigating the Urban Heat Island Effect Through Green Infrastructure in Detroit, Michigan

Abstract

How can building materials and building design be optimized in Detroit, Michigan to reduce the effects of the urban heat island effect?

Detroit, Michigan is one of many cities currently negatively impacted by the urban heat island (UHI) effect, which increases the temperature of urban cities compared to adjacent areas and leads to the detriment of the city’s public health. The UHI effect threatens Detroit’s social and environmental sustainability by increasing the risk of heat stress-related health outcomes, increased GHG emissions, higher risks of flooding, and cooling cost inequities that occur due to Detroit’s urban landscape density and disproportionate distribution of green spaces. Developing “green infrastructure” in the form of community parks and tree planting is a feasible and effective solution to combat Detroit’s UHI issue in the wake of increased climate change. Beyond the direct benefits of cooler temperatures from increased tree coverage, enhanced green infrastructure will also support the city’s overall climate resiliency by increasing capacity to store runoff flood water and reducing energy demand, thereby, reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Additionally, investing in green infrastructure would improve health outcomes. This proposal seeks to amplify Detroit’s existing sustainability and equity efforts by identifying areas disproportionately vulnerable to the UHI effect, strategically allocating empty lots and urban spaces to plant trees or transform into 100-acre community parks flush with tree canopy, and outlining the necessary logistical approaches and practical expenses involved.