Mayor launches plans to take the heat off London

Buildings need to be designed to stay cool and the materials used for making roads, roofing and pavements should reflect and not absorb heat, according to a report just released on protecting London.

The urban heat island phenomenon was investigated in a report led by Kings College, London and launched by mayor, Ken Livingstone, last week.

He pointed out that its principal cause is the storage by day of solar energy in the urban fabric and release of this energy into the atmosphere at night.

Steps being recommended include: cool roofs built from materials with high solar reflectance or albedo and high thermal emittance, and green roofs, using a growing medium planted over a waterproof membrane. Cool pavements made with high solar reflectivity and good water permeability are recommended along with greater openness between buildings to ensure the free escape of heat.

n More speakers for CJ’s Business Sustainability Conference in London on 15 November have been confirmed, including representatives from Wolseley, HBG, Wates, Bovis Lend Lease UK, British Land and Land Securities. Contact Linda Lucas for more information at linda.lucas@rbi.co.uk and 020 8652 3822.

[Contract Journal, 18 October 2006, p 13]