New Jersey offers grants to tackle the urban heat island effect

SUSAN PHILLIPS / WHYY – Pavement, black top and dense buildings all contribute to making urban areas hotter than nearby suburbs or rural areas — sometimes driving up temperatures 5 degrees Fahrenheit higher in parts of New Jersey and the Philadelphia area, according to a 2024 analysis by Climate Central. The additional heat from the built environment can be deadly and increases electricity bills, which disproportionately impacts low-income residents …