Temperatures in urban neighborhoods with few trees can be 10 degrees higher than in nearby suburbs. Planting more trees and painting roofs to reflect sunlight are two effective strategies proven to reduce heat in cities. But is one better than the other? It all depends on the neighborhood and the city. Lucy Hutyra (Boston University Earth and Environment Distinguished Professor & IGS core faculty) and collaborator Ian Smith (Earth & Environment, BU URBAN) researched the impacts of each strategy in different cities and different neighborhoods across cities. What they're uncovering can help cities and homeowners make targeted, impactful decisions to beat the heat.

Read the full article by Lucy Hutyra and Ian Smith here.