Impacts On Us

• Increase In Temperature

Most buildings and urbanized infrastructures are darker coloured, which results in higher sunlight absorption.  With the trapped heat having no place to go as there is a lack of greenery, it causes more radiation to be produced, which is why the weather during the summer can get quite hot with the extra heat. 

• Raises Energy Costs

Having hotter days before the summer is something we've experienced many times.  However, summer adding onto that means that there will be even more days of warm weather. Because of this, homeowners will want to turn up their AC and use their fans. This will result in their energy bill costs beginning to rise.

• Air pollution & greenhouse gas emissions

UHIs increase the creation of ground-layer ozone along with other pollutants and as a result, worsen air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. These warmer temperatures also speed up the chemical reactions that lead to dangerous pollutants. The air pollutants and hazardous substances which get released due to UHIs end up contributing to climate change.

• Heat-related illnesses/deaths

The higher temperatures in UHIs greatly increase the likelihood of heat-associated sicknesses and health conditions. Those who are most vulnerable to this include the elderly and those with underlying medical issues. Heat fatigue, heatstroke, and other illnesses are brought on by UHIs, which interfere with the body's ability to regulate temperature.

• Stormwater runoff

When there is a lower number of natural areas that can absorb rainfall, it causes problems with stormwater runoff. Due to this, there is a greater chance of floods occurring in paved and urban areas during excessive rainfall. In addition to causing property damage and public safety risks, this also makes water contamination issues worse.

• Threatens Aquatic Systems

The extreme temperatures represent a serious risk to aquatic systems. Increased water temperatures have the potential to damage aquatic life, upset aquatic ecosystems, and worsen water quality. They can contaminate and pollute aquatic environments, endangering their sustainability and well-being.