CABE is stepping up their 'proactivity' in the battle against urban heat islands with its latest educational campaign.

Seen as an increasing threat to comfortable urban living, the urban heat island effect causes cities to become several degrees hotter than surrounding rural areas. In hot summers, cities become increasingly uncomfortable to live in. With the recent Met Office report on global warming projections, this is becoming an increasingly serious issue.

The biggest difference is in nighttime temperatures, where the heat stored by hard surfaces, roads, roofs and walls is only slowly released.

In extreme cases, urban heat islands contribute to increased mortality. In the heat wave of 2003, there were up to 35,000 additional deaths across Europe and 3,000 additional deaths in the UK.

Greenspace infrastructure can significantly cool an urban island through evaporative cooling, as long as adequate water is available.

CABE cites the Chiswick Park development in London and describes how, although originally planned as an upmarket business park, it now ticks several urban cooling boxes as well. The greenspace is centred upon a network of lakes and a waterfall – it retains its ‘water-neutrality’ by means of run-off capture and the occasional use of a borehole.

Planting  around the buildings is of drought tolerant species such as pine, lavender and magnolias. Where irrigation becomes necessary, it is of the drip feed variety that maximises efficiency.

The buildings in Chiswick Park are designed to negate the need for air-conditioning systems. Window canopies that protect against direct solar gain, augment automatic blinds and louvres.

Biodiversity needs have been addressed at Chiswick Park with the creation of wildlife corridors around and through the boundaries – thus enabling free movement of fauna to and from the surrounding environment.