Studying the socioeconomic roots of urban heat with Santamouris

 

Professor Mat Santamouris explains in this interview his recent research on how urban heat and social inequality intersect in London, Seoul, and Shenzhen.

Santamouris is a leading expert in urban climate, sustainability, and environmental science, with a focus on the impacts of climate change in urban environments. He has conducted extensive research on urban heat islands, socio-economic disparities, and green infrastructure in cities around the world, contributing to numerous publications in this field.

Fluorescent roofing materials keep houses cool in summer and warm in winter: study

Choosing the colour of the roof on your home can impact your electricity bills and your comfort as well as the planet at large.

From up in the sky looking down, rooftops are a large part of the 2–3 per cent of the Earth's surface covered by urban areas.

And the way that big built surface absorbs and reflects light and solar radiation from the Sun can affect not only ambient temperatures in our suburbs, but also global warming.

Black roofs barely reflect any light and absorb a lot of solar radiation, meaning they trap a lot of heat during the day — making your house and neighbourhood hotter.

Influencing the Future : Urban Climate and Its Impact