PHOENIX — The Smart Surfaces Coalition says they can save the city of Phoenix $3 billion over 35 years with the implementation of trees, reflective roofs, road resurfacing and green stormwater infrastructure.
Savings would be spread out in the form of public health benefits, energy savings and infrastructure savings.
“As a desert community, building resilience to extreme heat is a top priority,” Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego said in a release. “We will continue to innovate to make our neighborhoods cooler and more comfortable, including implementing ‘smart’ surfaces and building materials.”
The city partnered with the coalition to develop the “Shade Phoenix Plan” to provide more than 27,000 new trees and 500 new shade structures to Phoenix last year.
“The Cities for Smart Surfaces Program is a great partner for Phoenix as we tackle the challenges posed by extreme heat,” Phoenix’s Director of Heat Response and Mitigation David Hondula said.
Among the resources the Smart Surfaces Coalition used to calculate its figures are a benefit-cost analysis tool, decision support tool and policy tracker developed by the coalition and partners like the World Resources Institute, Altostratus Inc., Open Technologies, Trust for Public Land and Columbia University’s Sabin Center for Climate Change Law.
“Cities have never before had such a comprehensive, data-rich view of their surface infrastructure – or such clear guidance on where and how to act,” CEO & Founder of the Smart Surfaces Coalition Greg Kats said.
According to the coalition, adopting smart surfaces could reduce air temperatures by 4.6 degrees in some neighborhoods and help store billions of gallons of rain water.
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