Project type                            Urban Heat Island study

Partners                                Laboratory of Environmental and Energy Efficient Design of Buildings and Settlements, Department of Environmental Engineering, Democritus University of Thrace. Division of Technical Services, Serres Municipality.

Beneficiaries                      Serres municipality (Greece)

Dates                                  October 2014 (publication date)

Website                         Use of cool materials and other bioclimatic interventions in outdoor places in order to mitigate the urban heat island in a medium size city in Greece

This project investigates the impact of construction materials on urban microclimate conditions in Serres, a city in North Greece that faces significant urban heat island (UHI) effects, particularly during hot summer months. The study focuses on the thermal behavior of conventional materials, such as asphalt and pavement tiles, in the city’s dense urban areas, where surface temperatures can exceed 45°C. The project aims to improve these conditions through the introduction of “cool” materials—those with high reflectivity and emissivity—combined with other mitigation techniques like increased green spaces.

Through field measurements and detailed CFD simulations, the project evaluates how replacing conventional materials with cool alternatives can reduce surface temperatures and improve both outdoor and indoor thermal comfort. The use of cool materials is shown to have significant cooling potential, with simulations indicating temperature reductions of up to 6.5°C in specific urban areas. This bioclimatic redevelopment approach also enhances energy efficiency in surrounding buildings by lowering the cooling load. Ultimately, the study contributes valuable evidence on the effectiveness of cool materials in mitigating UHI effects and improving urban sustainability, particularly in hot climates.

• Reduction in surface temperatures: the study found that replacing conventional materials with cool materials could reduce surface temperatures in urban areas by up to 6.5°C, significantly mitigating the urban heat island effect.
• Improved thermal comfort: the introduction of cool materials, along with other mitigation techniques, resulted in improved outdoor thermal comfort and reduced indoor cooling loads, enhancing the overall liveability of the urban environment.
• Energy efficiency benefits: the bioclimatic redevelopment not only cooled outdoor spaces but also contributed to lower energy consumption in nearby buildings, helping to reduce the cooling load and improve the energy performance of the city.