Adding Trees to Parking Lots
Greening the “asphalt deserts”
Studies show that there will be an increase in the number of 95F degree (35C) days for many parts of the world. Asphalt deserts, or parking lots, are going to be heating up quite a bit as we see this increase. Adding some shade to these areas may be a good idea in the coming future (to cool things off for more than just the car).
“Shaded surfaces, for example, may be 20–45°F (11–25°C) cooler than the peak temperatures of unshaded materials” (EPA).
Adding trees to the asphalt deserts could be like the Green Belt Movement in Africa. There, they are trying to increase green areas and fight back against the expanding Sahara Desert. In the last few decades they have planted tens of millions of trees. Some estimates show that we have paved an area larger than the size of Delaware and Rhode Island combined. I suppose those parking spots are needed with our 230+ million cars in the US.
Spots will be lost in this process of greening the asphalt deserts. Larger than usual planters will be needed for the trees. Medians may be inserted, planters added, and even some leaf clean up in the fall. There are cons to this process. This can add aesthetic value to the parking lots too. Crape myrtles, elms, and rep maples could spice up these asphalt deserts. Reducing the temperate in parking lots by even 10°F could make a huge difference.
