SAN ANTONIO — San Antonio officials said some neighborhoods experience temperatures more than 10 degrees higher than other parts of the city and are expanding heat mitigation efforts to reduce those disparities as periods of extreme heat become more frequent.
City officials said heat maps and temperature sensors have identified the areas most affected by the urban heat island effect, where extensive pavement and buildings, combined with limited tree cover, cause neighborhoods to retain more heat.
Laura Patiño, the city’s director of resilience and sustainability, said the hottest neighborhoods are in City Council Districts 2, 3, 4 and 5.
“Those neighborhoods experience the highest social vulnerability, have the lowest amount of tree canopy and are pretty industrial,” Patiño said.
To reduce temperatures in those areas, the city has expanded tree planting, added shaded spaces, tested cool pavement that reflects sunlight and installed reflective roofing materials through its Cool Roofs Program.
The program, administered by the Neighborhood & Housing Services Department, provides white shingles designed to reflect solar heat and help lower indoor temperatures.
Officials said the city is using sensors installed on streets and residential properties to measure surface and air temperatures and evaluate the effectiveness of those projects.
“The data and the science do tell us that using these types of interventions can lead to a 10-degree or more difference,” Patiño said.
The city’s recently released Heat Resilience Playbook outlines more than 50 initiatives aimed at reducing the effects of extreme heat. The plan includes expanding the urban tree canopy, increasing shaded public spaces, strengthening emergency response during heat events and investing in additional cooling infrastructure.
Officials said the strategy also includes expanding access to drinking water, distributing cooling fans, weatherizing homes to improve energy efficiency and educating residents about heat-related health risks.
“As our city grows, we have to ensure we take steps to protect our residents,” Patiño said.