2008 Volume 4 Issue 1 Pages 34-43
Background and Objectives. It is difficult that countermeasures against urban heat islands (UHI) are installed really effectively because various environmental impacts by UHI depend on time, season, and location. However, we think that research and development of installation methodology of UHI countermeasures based on life cycle thinking makes their really effective installation possible.
Results and Discussion. One of UHI countermeasure studies based on life cycle thinking is simultaneous evaluation of an air temperature reduction effect and an LCCO2 reduction effect by UHI countermeasures using life cycle inventory analysis (LCI). Although air temperature decrease in summer reduces energy consumption for cooling, the decrease in winter increases energy consumption for heating and installation and operation of UHI countermeasures themselves emit CO2. From the results of the study we can install UHI countermeasures so as not to promote global warming. The other of studies based on life cycle thinking is environmental impact assessment of UHIs based on a framework of life cycle impact analysis (LCIA). From the results of the study we can assess when and where UHI has an impact to a human society.
Perspectives. We wish that life cycle thinking also spreads over UHI countermeasures studies and UHI studies for real environmental impact reductions are being performed widely.
