Do you want to learn more about the rising temperatures in our communities and cities? In a series of posts, written by the Healthy Urban Environment Initiative (HUE) at ASU, we will present different approaches to mitigate heat and air quality problems in our neighborhoods.The Healthy Urban Environment Initiative (HUE), funded by Maricopa County Industrial Development Authority, is a solutions-focused research, policy and technology incubator at Arizona State University. HUE develops, tests and deploys heat-mitigation and air-quality improvement strategies and technologies that can be implemented across the State of Arizona. HUE will convert air quality and urban heat-related research into policy actions, novel technologies, and commercial products. In collaboration with practitioners and community members, we create healthier communities across Maricopa County.

HUE projects actively involve stakeholders such as elected and appointed officials, private businesses, individuals, communities, and nonprofits — and this is where ULI members come into play! To date, HUE has supported a range of projects that have real world applications. These projects range from data collection and testing to developing policy tools and technologies that support governance and management interventions around urban heat and air-quality.  Just a few examples of the projects HUE has supported include: working with a local charter school to develop a holistic approach to create a healthy learning environment including playground redesign to reduce heat exposure and encourage physical activity; working on the parking lot redesign for the Phoenix Zoo to illustrate holistic design approaches to mitigate heat; helping cities plan for extreme heat in terms of networking, collaboration and resource sharing to ensure a comprehensive, integrated and effective response to improve heat resilience.

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