Mitigating the Urban Heat Island Effect in Dense Neighborhoods: Sustainable Materials, Green Infrastructure, and Passive Design Strategies

Azarya Suri

Abstract: Rapid urbanization has intensified the Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect, raising surface and air temperatures in cities and amplifying heat stress, cooling energy demand, air pollution, and public health risks. Dense neighborhoods that are characterized by high impervious surface cover and limited green spaces are particularly vulnerable under these circumstances. This paper examines rooftop-based retrofit strategies, encompassing cool roofs, green roofs, as well as solar-integrated roofs to mitigate the UHI effect. Drawing on literature and case studies, it evaluates the performance, benefits, limitations, and contextual suitability of each approach. Findings reveal that cool roofs offer significant cost-effective surface cooling, green roofs deliver strong thermal and ecological benefits but at higher costs, and solar-integrated roofs present a dual advantage of renewable energy generation alongside cooling potential. Effectiveness varies by climate, urban morphology, and other socio-economic factors, underscoring the importance of integrated, context-specific strategies. It also argues that rooftop retrofits should not be implemented in isolation, but as part of a broader framework combining sustainable materials, green infrastructure, and passive design approaches to foster resilient, energy-efficient, and climate-adaptive urban environments.

Keywords: urban heat island effect, green infrastructure, cool roofs, green roofs, solar-integrated roofs

How to Cite?: Azarya Suri, "Mitigating the Urban Heat Island Effect in Dense Neighborhoods: Sustainable Materials, Green Infrastructure, and Passive Design Strategies", Volume 14 Issue 11, November 2025, International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR), Pages: 486-491, https://www.ijsr.net/getabstract.php?paperid=SR251103183339, DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.21275/SR251103183339