Smart surfaces—like cool and reflective roofs and pavements, green infrastructure, trees, green roofs, porous and permeable pavement, and solar panels—can mitigate extreme heat and stormwater runoff, resulting in more climate-resilient communities. However, data from ACEEE’s most recent City Clean Energy Scorecard show a range of municipal progress on this front and that most cities need to do more in disadvantaged communities. This is especially important as these communities are more likely to experience disproportionate impacts of climate change. 

Smart surfaces can be cost-effective investments that deliver a significant impact. They can reduce heat islands. One study found that areas without street trees were five times more likely to experience extreme heat than areas with full tree canopy coverage. An analysis of 93 European cities found that one-third of excess heat deaths in some areas could have been prevented by tree canopy coverage of 30%. Another report found that retro-reflective surfaces on buildings, which reflect sunlight and limit how much heat the urban landscape absorbs, reduced outdoor air temperatures by 2.6 degrees Celsius. Bifacial solar panels with photovoltaic cells on both sides can capture direct sunlight on their front side and reflect sunlight on the back, reducing heat.