PASSING a green building ordinance will enhance sustainability and livability and address the urban heat island effect in the city, an environmental group revealed.
Davao City-based Interfacing Development Interventions for Sustainability (IDIS) recommended to the city council to craft a green building ordinance covering diverse aspects of sustainable construction.
“By prioritizing eco-friendly building practices, the ordinance can foster resilient urban environments for residents and the ecosystem,” IDIS wrote in a Facebook post on April 11.
IDIS recognized the urgency for interventions to address heat-related risks, amid the rising temperatures brought by El Niño.
As the heat index surges, residents experience thermal discomfort which may lead to heightened heat stress, and may struggle with poor air quality, and higher energy demands for air conditioning systems.
IDIS study on the Urban Heat Island (UHI) phenomenon from April 2022 to April 2023 revealed that tree canopies, vegetated spaces, and permeable pavements effectively reduce the urban heat island effect and enhance residents’ comfort levels.
In their comparative average temperature per surface, hardly built space reaches up to 41.02 degrees Celsius; permeable-paved space is 39.33 degrees Celsius; open-landscaped space is 38.87 degrees Celsius; and closed canopy space is at 33.76 degrees Celsius.
“With their lower heat levels and increased humidity compared to traditional concrete and sparsely populated landscapes, green spaces and permeable pavements have become powerful allies against rising temperatures,” the post reads.
IDIS also pushed for interventions including expanding green spaces with trees and vegetation, using low-heat materials such as permeable pavements, wetland preservation, utilization of renewable energy sources, and deployment of urban heat index dissemination systems.
“Let’s embrace these recommendations to foster cooler, more sustainable urban environments for all,” IDIS stressed.
