2024-08-14 07:37:45
If it seems to you that the center of Sofia is the hottest (literally) place in the capital, you are probably right. The temperature in the heart of the city and in densely built-up complexes is often 3 degrees higher than the neighboring districts and even 4 degrees higher than the suburban areas. The difference is not with Vitosha, but with the Sofia field, and it was established by a study of the Capital Municipality, as well as by the “Sofia Team”.
These areas, called “urban heat islands”, are caused not only by the processes of climate change, but also by features of urban planning and construction – such as the tall buildings that stop the wind, writes “Dnevnik”.
Apart from the central parts of the city, “Lyulin” and zh.k. “Nadezhda” are listed as one of the most vulnerable in the municipality’s research, carried out jointly with Sofia University and started in 2019. The negative “heat island” effect is hardly weaker in the new, more southern neighborhoods, where the distances between the buildings are much smaller, and the construction of mainly residential buildings does not stop, but there are no data for them yet.
“In these areas, temperatures are significantly higher than the surrounding residential and green spaces – especially in areas with high building density and sealed surfaces (with asphalt and concrete – b.a.). The increased temperatures associated with heat islands have the potential to worsen the health status of the most vulnerable groups such as the elderly (over 65 or about 17.5% of the population according to official data) and those with chronic diseases”, is the conclusion of the study, parts of which were made available by the Metropolitan Municipality after a request to “Diary”.
Concrete steps against the problematic heat islands have not yet begun, but the municipality will seek solutions first through a model developed for the largest residential complex in Bulgaria (according to official data, with a population of almost 119 thousand as of 2023) – Lyulin.
For Lyulin, the Metropolitan Municipality has developed a “Climate Change Adaptation Plan based on a digital double and nature-based solutions”. Deputy Mayor for Ecology Nadezhda Bobcheva explained to “Dnevnik” that the digital double will serve for simulations in determining climatic characteristics and for mapping the degree of vulnerability of the area to hot spots. Models will be developed to mitigate the negative impact of expected climate changes with a horizon of 2050.
“The local plan, based on a digital counterpart of the largest residential complex in Sofia, covers measures and strategies to change the overall appearance of the territory and the way to adapt to climate change,” said Bobcheva. The goal is to create a prototype solution that can then be replicated for other areas of the city.
To mitigate the impact of heat islands, the experts who prepared the study make the following suggestions:
– construction of green walls;
– roof gardens, green terraces and facades;
– increase in tall vegetation around buildings;
– permeable pavements that allow exchange of heat, water and air with the soil in parking areas;
– “cooled” roofs of the buildings.
The former Minister of the Environment, Yulian Popov, in a development to deal with climate change, called “136 ideas for Sofia”, explains: “Green” is the roof that is grassed, covered with solar panels or solar collectors. Or a combination of two or all three. All new buildings will have green roofs.”
“Cooled” are the roofs that are painted with light and reflective paints, which are estimated to save up to 15% of the energy consumption for cooling the building. In the Sofia “Sustainable Energy and Climate Action Plan of the CO 2021-2030” there is also the development of a road map for “the use of the areas of the roofs of the buildings for climate-related activities”, which should be completed this year .
The potential options for the transformation of roofs related to heat islands are listed as “building installations for the production of energy from renewable sources, to shape green areas, or to be covered with a special reflective coating in order to increase the albedo (reflectivity – white .ed.) and reducing the heat absorbing capacity”.
“In accordance with the research dedicated to this effect and after studying the construction characteristics of the roofs, areas in the city should be determined in which to prioritize the application of a specific type of technology or a combination of technologies,” the climate plan of the capital reads.
The Metropolitan Municipality gives priority to landscaping activities and takes measures to deal with the effect of urban heat islands and improve the urban microclimate by increasing the number of planted trees and shrubs, especially in vulnerable areas, Deputy Mayor Bobcheva also promises.
The use of bags for slow irrigation of trees and innovative park-resistant pavements, as well as the construction of new green areas in the inter-block spaces, are listed as innovative solutions. Educational projects such as “creating shared green spaces (climatic hubs) in schools and kindergartens to increase the awareness and commitment of students and citizens” are also planned.
According to Bobcheva, similar to the plan for the adaptation of the “Lyulin” region, studies will be carried out for all regions in the Capital Municipality.