Introduction
Dense, low-rise buildings (1-3 stories), such as row houses or terraced homes. Heat Problem: Moderate to High. Density can still trap heat and block breezes, though shorter building heights allow for better nighttime cooling than high-rise zones.
Example Locations:
Temperate: London (UK), Amsterdam (Netherlands), Dublin (Ireland)
Tropical: Cartagena (Colombia), Georgetown (Malaysia), Stone Town (Zanzibar)
Arid: Fes (Morocco), Yazd (Iran), Tunis (Tunisia)
Continental: Boston (USA), Philadelphia (USA), Quebec City (Canada)
Mitigation Measures for LCZ 3
1. Urban Vegetation (Gardens/Yards)
Evaluation & Reasoning: Collective action in private gardens, yards, and on balconies provides significant local shading and evaporative cooling, creating a cooler microclimate around the home.
Climate Suitability:
Temperate/Tropical/Continental: Highly viable and encouraged.
Arid: Viable with xeriscaping—a gardening practice that uses drought-tolerant native plants to minimize water use.
2. Cool Pavements
Evaluation & Reasoning: Applying reflective coatings to streets and alleys lowers surface temperatures, reducing the amount of heat radiated into the surrounding environment at night.
Climate Suitability:
Universal: Effective in any sunny climate. Care must be taken to avoid increasing reflected heat onto pedestrians and adjacent buildings, which can sometimes worsen thermal comfort at street level.
3. Natural Ventilation
Evaluation & Reasoning: Important for personal comfort by replacing warm, stale indoor air with cooler outdoor air.
Climate Suitability:
Universal: Benefits are felt in all climates, especially those with high humidity. At a neighborhood scale, this can be improved by converting alleys into green corridors or creating small gaps in building rows to promote airflow.