Cooling Cities, Building Futures
A New Paradigm in Urban Sustainability
Heat islands contribute to human discomfort, health problems, higher energy bills and increased pollution.
Lisa Mummery Gartland
Heat Island Effect
The urban heat island (UHI) effect refers to the phenomenon where urban areas experience higher temperatures than surrounding rural areas due to human activities and the concentration of heat-absorbing materials like concrete, asphalt, and UHI contributes up to 4% of total global warming. If UHI continues unchecked, urban areas could see a 2 – 5°C rise by the end of the century, further amplifying climate change. UHI increases cooling demand leading to 5 – 10% higher electricity consumption.
Higher temperatures worsened by UHI result in death due to heat strokes. Indirect impacts of UHI also include
Sustainable Urban Scale Cooling:
The Process
Reduce heat at the urban scale
Reduce cooling needs in buildings
Key Strategies
Green spaces for natural cooling:
Parks, green roofs, and urban forests provide shade and evapotranspiration, which help lower temperatures.
Reflective or cool materials:
Cool roofing materials and pavements reduce heat absorption and reflect sunlight, reducing surface temperatures.
Water features:
Ponds, fountains, and similar water features increase evaporation, enhancing cooling.
Expanding urban vegetation:
Planting trees and designing streetscapes with permeable surfaces helps minimize heat retention and improves stormwater management.
Spatial planning:
Proper building orientation and urban density optimize airflow, reducing heat accumulation.
evapotranspiration. Green roofs and facades further
Water bodies act as a natural cooling solution by leveraging water's high specific heat to delay peak temperatures. The evaporation process helps reduce air temperature, and water's low reflectivity prevents rapid warming, promoting a cooler surrounding environment.
Additionally, the spacing between building blocks and the proportional relationship between massing, height and width are key considerations, as they directly influence airflow patterns. These spatial arrangements must be tailored to foster desired air circulation, ensuring a comfortable microclimate that supports the activities planned for the area.
McD BERL pioneers Global Innovation
San Francisco
San Diego
New York
Colombia
McD BERL’s sustainability efforts across the globe play a critical role in confronting environmental challenges and advancing a more sustainable future.
A forward-thinking strategy tackles urban climate challenges at every step, ensuring that sustainability is woven into the fabric of the project’s development.
Kenya
Sri Lanka
India
Dubai
Case Studies
Urban Scale Cooling
Indian Institute of Management
Educational Campus
Tiruchirappalli, India
Maharashtra National Law University
Educational Campus
Nagpur, India
Ciudad del Bicentenario
Mixed Use Development
Cartagena, Colombia
Lodha Palava City
Mixed Use Development
Mumbai, India
Indian Institute of Management
Tiruchirappalli, India
Lower than the surrounding air temperature due to formation of an extensive green belt around campus with native plant species and lakes. 5°C
Indian Institute of Management
Tiruchirappalli, India
Reduced Heat Reflection
The use of pervious materials and surface finishes for pathways and roads allows water to infiltrate the ground, reducing surface temperatures by preventing heat buildup. This approach limits heat reflection, which typically increases ambient temperatures, and helps maintain a cooler environment.
Cooler Microclimate
Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SUDS) are designed to manage stormwater efficiently by allowing water to soak into the ground, reducing surface runoff. By integrating green infrastructure such as permeable surfaces and vegetation, SUDS help cool the urban environment, thereby mitigating the urban heat island effect.
A 15-acre water body network harvests rainwater, manages stormwater, and cools the campus by reducing the urban heat island effect.
Indian Institute of Management
Tiruchirappalli, India
Maharashtra National Law University
Nagpur, India
2.5°C
Reduction in ambient air temperature in a composite climate that has a peak temperature of 41°C. This is achieved by the creation of large ponds.
S.U.D.S.
Maharashtra National Law University
Nagpur, India
Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems have been designed in the form of bioswales with detention ponds leading to natural reservoirs for storage. The water channel network lowers the temperature.
Cartagena, Colombia Ciudad del Bicentenario
Potential temperature reduction compared to
Cartagena, Colombia Ciudad del Bicentenario
Outdoor Wind Comfort
The spacing between buildings is strategically designed to regulate wind flow. Different activities require specific wind speeds; for example, gentle breezes are ideal for strolling, while moderate winds may be better for more active outdoor spaces. Proper wind circulation helps enhance thermal comfort and ensures an enjoyable environment.
solar radiation. This approach enhances energy efficiency by reducing the need for artificial cooling and optimizing passive solar benefits.
Mumbai, India
Lodha Palava City
3°C
Cooler compared to surrounding areas due to extensive tree planting, inclusion of water bodies and the right use of materials.
Lodha Palava City
Mumbai, India
Enhanced Air Quality
Lodha Pallava City serves as a living laboratory under the Net Zero Urban Accelerator initiative, in the collaboration with the Rocky Mountain Institute. As part of this accelerator, the key strategies have been implemented, including expansive green spaces with native plantings to provide shade, enhance air quality, fountains, is another strategy to cool the microclimate. Additionally, materials with a high solar reflectance index have been used to reduce heat absorption, lowering building energy consumption and its overall carbon footprint.
Building Sustainability
Site Approach
Urban Head Island Mitigation
Outdoor Thermal Comfort
Water Shed Management
Building
Passive Strategies
High Efficient HVAC Systems
Electrical Load Reduction
Water Efficiency
Case Studies Building Sustainability
Infosys Maharashtra National Law University
Technology Park
Nagpur, India
Educational Campus
Nagpur, India
5 % & 20 %
Energy Savings of 5% achieved with no cost measures and 20% energy savings with minimal cost investment.
Achieved in all regularly occupied spaces. 100 % Daylight
Wipro Center of Excellence
Kolkata, India
Daylight Harnessing
The building envelope is designed to eliminate glare while ensuring 100% daylight in all spaces. Vertical and inclined fins are strategically placed according to the façade orientation, maintaining unobstructed views of the surrounding beautiful landscape.
Minimized Envelope Heat Gain
The buildings' orientation has been carefully planned according to the sun path, while also ensuring that wind flow remains unobstructed. The building envelope material assembly has been designed to minimize heat gain.
India Infosys
Nagpur,
0.7 W/Sq ft
Minimized envelope load compared to business-as-usual building with an envelope load of 6 Watt/ square foot.
Nagpur, India Infosys
Energy E ciency
The design uses passive cooling strategies suited to Nagpur's climate, optimizing natural ventilation and daylighting. The building's orientation and form follow the sun's path, while vibrant fins on the façade reduce heat gain. The window-to-wall ratio is optimized, and light shelves minimize glare and maximize daylight penetration, improving energy efficiency and indoor comfort.
60 kWh/sqm/yr
Maharashtra National Law University
Nagpur, India
Second skins
Prevent solar radiation from falling on the actual building envelope.
Maharashtra National Law University
Nagpur, India
Indoor Thermal & Visual Comfort
Balanced facades are designed to eliminate glare while maximizing natural daylight. The fenestration strategy ensures a balance between optimal daylight and glare reduction, preventing discomfort from direct light. This approach guarantees 100% daylit spaces, enhancing visual comfort for indoor users.
Reduction in temperature from outdoor to indoor naturally ventillated space due to efficient facade design. 12°C
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