ASSESSING THE IMPACT OF LEED BUILDINGS ON URBAN HEAT ISLANDS (UHIS): CHALLENGES, CONSEQUENCES, AND RETROFITTING SOLUTIONS

This paper investigates how LEED-certified buildings address Urban Heat Island (UHI) effects through three vital strategies involving green roofs and high-albedo materials with urban vegetation implementations. LEED principles support the use of green roofs that offer insulation benefits and enable rooftop temperature decreases of up to 30°C and lead to urban environmental energy savings and improved biodiversity. The use of high-albedo materials that reflect sunlight efficiently leads to reduced heat absorption and produces both temperature reductions in surrounding areas and better pedestrian comfort. Urban vegetation also counters indoor heating by releasing water vapor into the environment. The combination of these approaches creates a solution for managing UHI effects and leads to better energy efficiency and air quality and stronger urban sustainability.Through case studies from cities such as New York, Los Angeles, and some UK Midwestern cities, the paper illustrates how these strategies can be adapted to specific climatic, urban, and regulatory contexts.