As global temperatures rise and cities face the triple threat of extreme heat, compromised infrastructure, and community vulnerability, more jurisdictions are developing heat action plans. Yet, well-intended actions often stall due to a lack of community buy-in, social and physical variations across a city or region, and limited information on what strategies to implement, where.

CAPA’s Neighborhood Cooling Solutions (NCS) package focuses on a targeted scale, creating an entry point for community engagement and resident-informed planning. The NCS package includes localized heat data collection by community members; heat mapping and modeling the thermal impact of shade and surface materials; and community planning activities for high-priority areas. Engagement tools and protocols will be co-created by CAPA and local organizations, and implemented in collaboration with trusted community-based partners. 



By accounting for the unique characteristics of each neighborhood, cooling solutions – trees and green infrastructure, mechanical shade structures, reflective surfaces, social support programs, and others – may be tailored to maximize implementability. Through this process, residents can visualize heat data, learn about heat risks and impacts in familiar places, share personal experiences, develop goals related to extreme heat, and identify preferred options for heat resilience. NCS activities culminate in a concise neighborhood implementation strategy with recommended actions based on physical and social data.