Urban Nature-Based Solutions
Green infrastructure that cools cities, manages stormwater, and sequesters carbon
Your Progress
Section 3 of 5The Concrete Heat Trap
Cities are 5-7°F hotter than surrounding areas—the urban heat island effect.
Why It Matters
- → Energy: Every 1°F increase = 2-4% more AC demand
- → Health: Heat-related deaths up 56% in US cities since 2018
- → Equity: Low-income neighborhoods are 7°F hotter (less tree cover, more asphalt)
- → Water: Impervious surfaces cause flooding—stormwater overwhelms sewers
Traditional "gray infrastructure" (pipes, pumps, AC) is energy-intensive and expensive. Green infrastructure works with nature—cooler, cheaper, with co-benefits.
🎯 Interactive: Urban Heat Island Modifier
Adjust surface types to see how they affect urban temperature. Can you cool the city below baseline?
Surface Temperature
14.0°F hotter than baseline
Adjust Surface Cover (%)
🌿 Nature-Based Solutions Toolkit
🌳Urban Forests
Strategic tree planting cools via evapotranspiration and shade. One mature tree = 10 room AC units cooling power.
🌱Green Roofs
Living roofs (soil + plants) reduce building cooling by 30-40%, absorb rainwater, extend roof lifespan 2-3x.
💧Bioswales & Rain Gardens
Vegetated channels capture stormwater, filter pollutants, recharge groundwater. Replace concrete gutters.
🏞️Urban Wetlands
Restored wetlands treat wastewater naturally, create habitat, sequester carbon. Multi-functional land use.
💰 The Economic Case
ROI Analysis
NYC's MillionTreesNYC program (2007-2015) cost $420M. Benefits: $37M/year in energy savings, $28M/year in air quality, $36M/year in stormwater management. 20-year ROI: 540%.
Property Value Impact
Trees within 50ft of homes increase value 3-15% (varies by city). Parks within 500ft add 10-20%. Green infrastructure pays for itself via tax revenue.
Grid Benefits
Urban cooling reduces peak electricity demand 10-20%. Los Angeles tree-planting program cut summer peak load 3 GW—equivalent to 10 power plants avoided ($6B savings).