Planning in the West Webinars: UHI Presenters

Archive >> Mitigating the Urban Heat Island

Date: April 25th, 2012

Coupling rising temperatures with higher surface temperatures has the potential to render many areas within the Intermountain West region uncomfortable, if not dangerous, without aggressive air conditioning usage and consequent increases in energy consumption. As is often the case, the risks associated with higher temperatures impact the most sensitive populations, including children, the elderly, those with health conditions and low-income residents. This webinar features local adaptation responses from communities that have enacted urban forestry resolutions, heat relief networks, and used cutting-edge technology to combat rising temperatures.

Presenters

Dr. Sharon Harlan, Associate Professor of Sociology and Senior Sustainability Scientist at Arizona State University

Sharon L. Harlan is an associate professor of sociology and senior sustainability scientist at Arizona State University. Her recent work is on interdisciplinary problems of social and environmental inequity brought about by rapid urbanization in the Phoenix, AZ, metropolitan region. She is the principal investigator of a project examining urban vulnerability to climate change as a dynamic feature of coupled natural and human systems that differentially place landscapes and people at risk from extreme heat. This four-year study continues her collaborative, interdisciplinary research on spatial variation in the urban heat island and the implications of climate change for heat-related health inequalities in urban neighborhoods. She also directs the Phoenix Area Social Survey, which examines people's values, attitudes, and behaviors concerning the local environment and the impact of income and ethnic residential segregation on social and physical environmental inequalities.

Tim Cole, Homeless Programs Coordinator, City of Phoenix

Tim Cole is the Homeless Programs Coordinator for the City of Phoenix's Human Services Department. He strives to improve the quality of life for Phoenix residents through innovative social services, educational and victim advocacy programs, collaborations and partnerships. In 2011, Tim received the Maricopa Association of Governments Star Award for his work with the Watkins Emergency Shelter and with community providers of homeless services.

Marco Velotta, Planner, City of Las Vegas Planning Department

Marco Velotta is a member of the City of Las Vegas Office of Sustainability and assists with the implementation of the City's Sustainability initiative. He graduated from the University of Nevada, Reno in 2006 with a BS in Geography, Math minor and a Master's in City Planning in 2008. Marco presently assists with the management of the City's Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant allocation, the City's Green Building Program, and implementation of the City's Sustainable Energy Strategy. He also works closely with HomeFree Nevada, the state's Home Performance with Energy STAR program, which is partially funded by the Green Building Program and the Recovery Act.

Dave Cornoyer, Planner, City of Las Vegas Planning Department

Dave Cornoyer is a Planner with the City of Las Vegas Planning and Development Department. He has been with the department since 2006 and has worked in a variety of planning functions including inspections, sustainability, case writing, and long range planning. He holds a Bachelor of Landscape Architecture degree from UNLV.

Sheri Roese, Emerald Cities CEO/Founder

Sheri Roese is founder and CEO of Emerald Cities, a Scottsdale based eco-company that manufactures solar reflective nano-engineered Ultra Thin High Performance Concrete designed for coating hot asphalt surfaces such a parking lots, school yards, crosswalks, bike lanes, and other large public areas. Sheri is a 35 year veteran in the architectural surface design field and is known all over the world for her projects.

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