D.C.’s Heat Islands- SpotlightDC

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D.C.’s Heat Islands

This three-part report focuses on summertime temperatures in D.C, the connection between heat, trees and human health, and how to cool down D.C.

Christine MacDonald, published 09/24/21 in ☍

Spotlight funded

A photo of a street food vendor. She is wearing a short sleeve shirt and jeans, and her stand has various fruits and snacks. — “I wish there were trees here so that we could be in the shade,” say street vendor Gloria Gomez. Photo by David H. Moreno

Produced by Hola Cultura’s Storytelling Program for Experiential Learning (SPEL), this three-part series in both English and Spanish explores the facts around D.C.'s heat islands, how this phenomena affects public health, and solutions to cool down D.C. equitably and with vulnerable populations in mind. This series was also published in Washington City Paper.

#1: Temperatures in D.C.’s Heat Islands, Can Register Ten to Twenty Degrees Hotter Than in Leafy Neighborhoods

#2: Summer Heat Can Lead to Adverse Health Reactions for Residents Across D.C

#3: Cooling D.C. Requires Thinking About Who’s Most Vulnerable to Heat