Cities are getting hotter. From California to New York, urban neighborhoods trap heat like ovens, pushing local air temperatures several degrees higher than surrounding rural areas. This phenomenon, known as the urban heat island (UHI) effect, doesn’t just make summer afternoons uncomfortable—it increases energy costs, strains health, and raises environmental concerns.

The good news? Nature already solved this problem long before we paved our streets. Through evaporation and transpiration, plants, soils, and permeable landscapes cool themselves and the air around them. Now, innovative materials are applying those same principles to the built environment—from permeable pavements to shade trees to synthetic turf systems with TºCool® infill.

In this blog, we’ll explore the science of evaporative cooling, highlight U.S. studies proving its effectiveness, and show how TºCool® uses this natural process to reduce turf surface temperatures by up to 30–50°F—making yards, playgrounds, and fields safer, cooler, and more sustainable.

What Is the Urban Heat Island Effect?

The Urban Heat Island effect occurs when cities replace natural landscapes with asphalt, concrete, rooftops, and synthetic materials that absorb and radiate heat. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), urban areas in the U.S. can be 1–7°F hotter during the day and 2–5°F hotter at night than their rural surroundings

That extra heat has consequences:

Human health risks: Extreme surface and air temps increase risks of burns, heat exhaustion, and heatstroke.
Energy use: Homes and businesses crank up air conditioning, spiking electricity demand.
Air quality: Higher temps accelerate smog formation.

NASA’s ECOSTRESS instrument captured a striking view of the Urban Heat Island effect in South Los Angeles on June 17, 2021. While the air temperature was just 88°F, surface temperatures on roads, parking lots, rooftops, and industrial areas soared past 110°F, with some hotspots hitting 118°F. Research shows synthetic turf often runs even hotter than asphalt, reaching 150–170°F.

The consequences are clear: extreme surface heat increases energy demand for cooling, drives higher greenhouse gas emissions, and worsens air quality. It also poses health risks for vulnerable groups such as children, the elderly, and outdoor workers.

Nature’s Cooling Strategy: Evaporation & Transpiration

In natural systems, plants and soils act as natural heat sinks: the soil’s moisture and structure allow it to conduct heat downward into the subgrade and then slowly release that heat through evaporation—meaning shaded, vegetated ground tends to stay much cooler than exposed hard surfaces.

Plants and soils stay cool by releasing water into the air. Two processes are at work:

Evaporation: Water turns into vapor, carrying heat energy away from surfaces.
Transpiration: Plants release water vapor through their leaves, cooling themselves and their surroundings.

Green infrastructure—like planting trees, installing green roofs, and increasing vegetation—provides several cooling benefits. It shades surfaces from direct sunlight, helps deflect solar radiation, and releases moisture into the air (evapotranspiration), all of which help reduce both surface and air temperatures.

U.S. Studies on Evaporative Cooling Strategies

Permeable pavements (evaporative)
The EPA highlights “cool pavements” as one of the most effective ways to reduce UHI. Permeable pavements allow water to seep in and later evaporate, which lowers surface temperatures. A Rutgers-led study found that permeable concrete with high porosity can reduce pavement heat release by 25–30% after rainfall, helping cities stay cooler under heat stress. The U.S. Geological Survey and ICPI Foundation documented six years of monitoring in Madison, WI. Their results confirm that permeable pavement systems manage both heat and water better than conventional pavements, keeping surfaces and subsurfaces cooler.
Green roofs (evaporative + shading cooling)
The EPA also emphasizes green roofs as a powerful cooling strategy. Vegetated roofs absorb less heat than conventional dark rooftops, while plants release moisture through evapotranspiration.
Research shows green roofs can reduce rooftop surface temperatures by up to 50–60°F on hot summer days compared to traditional materials, while lowering the surrounding air temperature as well. Beyond cooling, they improve air quality, manage stormwater, and add usable green space to dense urban areas.
Vegetation and trees
Trees cool cities through shade and evapotranspiration. The EPA notes that increasing canopy cover can reduce local air temperatures significantly. In 2023, Climate Central mapped 44 U.S. cities and found that millions of Americans live in census tracts where Urban Heat Island makes neighborhoods 8°F hotter than surrounding areas. Expanding tree cover and green infrastructure is one of the most effective tools to counter that burden.

Applying Evaporative Cooling to Synthetic Turf

Traditional synthetic turf, while convenient, low maintenance, and popular, can get excessively hot. On a 95°F summer day, turf without cooling infill can reach 160°F + hotter than asphalt, making it unsafe for human / animal use. That not only creates a comfort problem but adds to the local environment’s urban heat island effect.

This is where TºCool® steps in. Inspired by nature, TºCool’s patented infill technology harnesses the same evaporative cooling process used by plants and permeable pavements:

Moisture Retention – TºCool® infill is activated from rainfall, irrigation, or even morning dew.
Sustained Evaporation – As the turf heats up, the infill slowly releases that moisture, dissipating heat energy into the atmosphere.
Surface Cooling – The result? Turf surface temperatures drop by 30–50°F, transforming a burning-hot field into a safe, usable surface.

This isn’t just theory—TºCool’s technology is patented, tested, and proven across sports fields, playgrounds, and residential projects worldwide..

Beating the Heat: What TºCool® Means for Your Family and Neighborhood

Choosing turf with TºCool® infill isn’t just about comfort. It’s about creating healthier, safer, and more sustainable communities:

Safety for kids & pets: Surfaces stay touch-safe, preventing burns and heat stress.
Neighborhood cooling: Every yard or field using TºCool® contributes less heat to the local microclimate, helping mitigate urban heat island.
Environmental responsibility: Unlike plastic-coated sands, TºCool® contains no microplastics, protecting waterways and ecosystems.
Energy efficiency: Cooler surfaces mean cooler neighborhoods—reducing reliance on air conditioning and lowering energy costs.

Putting It All Together: Nature + Technology

From trees and green roofs to permeable pavements and TºCool® turf, evaporative cooling strategies work best in combination. Imagine a block with:

Shade trees along sidewalks.
Permeable driveways that store and release rainwater.
Playgrounds, sports fields, and backyards built with TºCool® turf systems.

Together, these elements form a cooling network, reducing extreme surface temperatures and creating healthier, more livable neighborhoods.

*TºCool Technology infused Turf installed at a mix use development in Atlanta Georgia.*

Conclusion: Don’t Let Your Turf Add to the Heat

The Urban Heat Island effect is real, measurable, and harmful—but it can be reduced. Nature shows us the way: evaporation and transpiration are powerful tools to cool our cities.

With TºCool®, you can bring that same natural cooling to synthetic turf. By reducing surface temps by 30–50°F, TºCool® makes turf safe for families, comfortable for pets, and better for the environment.

👉 Don’t settle for turf that adds to the heat. Choose the only proven, patented cooling infill—TºCool®—and make your lawn, playground, or sports field part of the solution.

Urban Heat Islands, Synthetic Turf Safety, and the Cooling Power of TºCool® Infill