The Smart Surfaces Coalition released an updated suite of web-based tools to support strategic adoption of Smart Surfaces, a term that encompasses a set of resilient infrastructure technologies that cost-effectively mitigate urban heat and manage stormwater, while increasing consumer comfort, lowering energy bills, and enhancing grid resilience. Smart Surfaces technologies include cool roofs and walls, green roofs, reflective and permeable pavements, solar, and trees and other nature-based stormwater infrastructure. The tools developed by the Smart Surfaces Coalition and its partners are intended to inform policy and investment decisions and assist state and local governments in meeting their unique energy, environmental, and economic development goals. One tool in particular, the Smart Surfaces Policy Tracker, features a robust, searchable database of nearly 2,000 Smart Surfaces policies in all 50 states. State Energy Offices can use the tracker to explore policies in other jurisdictions and can easily filter by location and climate zone, policy type, technology, and more. The site also hosts policy guides and model ordinances and offers a Policy Help Desk to provide direct assistance to users interested in implementing Smart Surfaces policies. In addition to the tracker, the Smart Surfaces Coalition launched a Benefit-Cost Analysis Tool and a Decision Support Tool, which are currently available for ten cities participating in the Cities for Smart Surfaces initiative.
To learn more about Smart Surfaces and NASEO's work with the Smart Surfaces Coalition, click here.