Can Greening and Insulation Cool Cities? --Three Perspectives on Heat Island Countermeasures in 2004

Can Greening and Insulation Cool Cities? --Three Perspectives on Heat Island Countermeasures in 2004
In 2004, as cities became increasingly hotter, architects, environmentalists, and government officials exchanged opinions on how to cool cities. The architects argued that house design that utilizes natural materials such as insulation and rooftop greenery is the frontline of environmental measures, and that it must strike a balance between comfort and the environment. Environmentalists, on the other hand, warned that heat flow in an entire city cannot be changed by house-by-house measures, and stressed the need for a master plan at the city planning level. Administrators stated that citizens' agreement was essential to make greening mandatory, and showed a willingness to explore approaches based on both institutions and awareness. Individuals and cities, regulation and freedom, comfort and sustainability--these intersecting positions eventually converged on the fundamental question, "Who will chart the future of cities? The heat island is not merely a heat problem, but a mir
ror reflecting the relationship between the city and people, and the debate at that time was also the beginning of a journey to explore the image of the city of the future.