How a “cool block” in one Massachusetts city could provide a template for combatting extreme heat

In Chelsea, Massachusetts, residents like Arwa Ait-Chaib and her mother face extreme heat exacerbated by the Urban Heat Island effect due to a lack of greenery. To combat this, the nonprofit GreenRoots is implementing cooling solutions, such as planting trees and reflective surfaces, while Boston researchers study urban heat impacts, highlighting the need for more green spaces in densely populated areas.

Explain It To Me Like I’m 5: In Chelsea, Massachusetts, people are finding ways to cool down their neighborhood, which gets really hot in the summer because there aren’t many trees or parks, by planting trees and making the streets and roofs lighter so they don’t trap heat.

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