ComEd's limitations on providing adequate power were apparent last summer. At the time, the City was in arbitration hearings to force the company to make needed investments, an action that was resolved with the new agreement. ComEd also has committed to several new projects going forward. On a separate track, the Department of Environment's new Urban Heat Island Initiative is gaining momentum. Urban Heat Island is the term for elevated temperatures in urban areas due to heat absorption by paved surfaces and dark colored roofs.
Heat islands can worsen pollution.
For one thing, buildings that absorb heat take more energy to cool and generating energy causes pollution. For one thing, buildings that absorb heat take more energy to cool, and generating energy causes pollution. Second, elevated temperatures in the city contribute to the formation of ground-level ozone, or smog. The City of Chicago has begun demonstration projects in neighborhoods and downtown to mitigate urban heat islands. These include rooftop gardens, enhanced median plantings, and greening in parking lots, all of which reflect heat and even clean the air.