Offenbach Pioneers Urban Heat Management with Innovative Paving Tests
Offenbach is pioneering a new approach to urban heat management. The city has established six test areas, each 12 square meters, at the intersection of Berliner Straße 60 and Market Square. The goal? To evaluate different paving materials and their impact on temperature regulation and maintenance under real urban conditions.
The test areas are strategically located in front of the city police station, a bustling and heavily loaded location. This allows the city to assess the durability and performance of various paving stones under real-world urban conditions. The city hopes to gain insights into the self-cleaning behavior of these materials under different weather conditions.
The city's Planning and Building Department has set up these test surfaces, aiming to reduce maintenance and decrease the heating of sealed surfaces due to climate change. The surfaces vary in color and texture, influencing their ability to reflect or absorb sunlight and regulate heat. For instance, light and smooth surfaces reflect sunlight better and heat up less, while darker and rougher surfaces absorb and store heat more strongly.
Preliminary results are promising. Significant temperature differences have been observed between the test areas. On hot days, concrete has proven to be almost ten degrees Celsius cooler than asphalt. Moreover, it remained particularly cool under the trees, with temperatures up to 15 degrees lower than on asphalt, highlighting the importance of urban greenery in heat management.
Offenbach's innovative approach to urban heat management is yielding valuable insights. By testing different paving materials and considering urban greenery, the city aims to create cooler, more comfortable urban environments. The results of this study will guide future urban planning and infrastructure development in the face of climate change.
