From heat islands to green oases

Cities are the future of humanity, and urbanization is an unstoppable trend. According to the United Nations, almost 70 percent of the world's population will live in cities by 2050. However, this rapid development also brings challenges, particularly with regard to rising temperatures in urban areas. Cities are often heat islands that can be up to 10°C (18°F) warmer than their rural surroundings, as studies show. How is a pleasant life still possible there in times of climate change?

Urban planners have been working on making cities cooler for some time now. Plants, good insulation, reflective colors and lots of water help them do this.

Green roofs for a cool climate

It starts with the surfaces. Concrete and asphalt store and radiate a lot of heat. They reflect sunlight poorly and therefore heat up a lot. Plants cool the environment by evaporating water. They also provide shade. But where to put all the green spaces in a densely populated city? On top of the houses! Green roofs not only provide fresh air, but also keep the heat away. This creates a cooler and more pleasant climate for people living in metropolitan areas. LANXESS enables the greening of buildings with Preventol root inhibitors. They protect roofs from damage caused by penetrating roots.

Preserving room temperature

Effective insulation also keeps the interior cool. Well-insulated buildings have low thermal conductivity. This means that in summer the heat stays outside and in winter the heat stays inside. The insulation is often made of polystyrene or polyurethane, which are highly flammable. They therefore need reliable protection against fire. LANXESS produces flame retardants that make the insulation materials less flammable and thus increase safety. Without these flame retardants, thermal insulation would be impossible.

Reflecting light - not absorbing it

Another way to reduce the heat in the house is to use pigments with solar radiation. These can reflect a part of the sun's energy and thus reduce the heating of the surface. One such pigment is Bayferrox 303 T, an innovative black pigment from LANXESS developed specifically for the construction industry. Bayferrox 303 T reflects sunlight more strongly than conventional black pigments and is therefore particularly suitable for black roof tiles or facades. Black is a trendy color in architecture, exuding elegance and modernity. With Bayferrox 303 T, this color can be used without sacrificing the cooling effect.

Cooling down everywhere

Last but not least, it is also important for people living in cities to be able to cool down outside. Public drinking water fountains are an effective means of protecting health. Lewatit ion exchange resins help to remove components such as iron and manganese as well as traces of pollutants such as arsenic and lead from the water. Ensuring the best drinking water quality.

Climate change is a major challenge for cities, but also a major opportunity. Through urban development innovations, they can not only mitigate the negative consequences of global warming, but also improve the quality of life of their residents and save energy. Chemical products make an important contribution to this by offering solutions that make buildings cooler, safer and more sustainable. With LANXESS products, the cities of tomorrow can become green oases that protect people and the environment.