Rethinking Infrastructure Design - Rethinking Infrastructure Design for Multi-Use Water Services - page 15

Fig. 16 A simple illustration of the UHI causes

increasing the albedo of the urban environment, increasing urban vegetation cov-
erage and using natural heat sinks are preferred options. Shading and evapotrans-
piration are the two main techniques that trees and vegetation employ to reduce the
temperature. Trees and vegetation are bene cial to the communities in many

aspects, including improving thermal comfort, reducing energy usage in buildings,
carbon dioxide reduction, improved air quality and decreased storm water run-off.

A Demonstration
A simple demonstration of vegetation in uence on the UHI effect is shown on

the MSc project conducted on Imperial College South Kensington Campus
(Luan 2013 ). First

figure shows the existing state of Imperial College Cam-
pus. By greening 100 % of roofs and introducing new tree lines along the
sidewalks, the basic model calculated by implementation of green roofs and
ground-level vegetation, air temperature is reduced by 2 C. Achieved tem-

perature reduction can effectively reduce the risk of possible heat-related
illnesses and disorder to a lower level, when the air temperature is above
30

°

C. However, in order to provide these effects, vegetation has to have
constant supply of water so that water is relisted via evapotranspiration. This
water does not have to come from potable system. It can come from the BG
solution.

°