Heat Island Effect EPA Heat Island Webcast: Ways to Beat the
Heat: Effective Approaches to Heat Island Reduction. Held August
8, 2012. Presentations and audio files now available. EPA
Publishes Reducing Urban Heat Islands: Compendium of Strategies
Featured Presentation: Measuring UHI in San Juan, Puerto Rico
(PDF) (38pp, 6.9MB) Calendar of Heat Island-Related Conferences
and Events The term "heat island" describes built up areas that
are hotter than nearby rural areas. The annual mean air
temperature of a city with 1 million people or more can be
1.8–5.4°F (1–3°C) warmer than its surroundings. In the evening,
the difference can be as high as 22°F (12°C). Heat islands can
affect communities by increasing summertime peak energy demand,
air conditioning costs, air pollution and greenhouse gas
emissions, heat-related illness and mortality, and water
quality. Communities can take a number of common-sense measures
to reduce the effects of summertime heat islands. This website
provides information on the heat island