Which of the following will contribute to reducing the heat island effect?

Which of the following will contribute to reducing the heat island effect?
A . Artificial turf grass
B . Intensive vegetated roof
C . Steep sloped roof with initial SRI of 35
D . Low sloped roof with initial Solar Reflectance Index (SRI) of 64

View Answer

Answer: B

Explanation:

An intensive vegetated roof is a roof that has a thick layer of soil and plants that provide shade, evapotranspiration, and stormwater management. It can reduce the heat island effect by lowering the surface and air temperature of the roof and the surrounding area. Artificial turf grass does not reduce the heat island effect because it is not a living plant and does not provide cooling benefits. A steep sloped roof with initial SRI of 35 does not meet the minimum requirement of 39 for Option 1 or 32 for Option 2 of the Heat Island Reduction credit. A low sloped roof with initial SRI of 64 exceeds the minimum requirement of 82 for Option 1 or 64 for Option 2, but it is not the best option among the choices because it only reflects solar radiation and does not provide other benefits such as shading, evapotranspiration, and stormwater management.

Reference: Heat Island Reduction credit in LEED BD+C: New Construction v4.1 – LEED v4.11

SpecTopics: Heat Island Reduction Credit and LEED® V4/V4.12

LEED Principle: Urban Heat Island Mitigation and Roofing3