I 
112TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. R. 51 
To reduce the heat island effect and associated ground level ozone pollution 
from Federal facilities. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JANUARY 5, 2011 
Mr. CONNOLLY of Virginia introduced the following bill; which was referred 
to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform 
A BILL 
To reduce the heat island effect and associated ground level 
ozone pollution from Federal facilities. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Heat Island and Smog 
Reduction Act of 2011’’. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
The Congress finds the following: 
(1) Parking lots, dark-colored rooftops, and 
lack of tree canopy in urban areas causes the ‘‘heat 
island’’ effect, wherein urban areas are significantly 
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hotter than surrounding rural areas due to solar 
heat being collected by components of the built envi-
ronment. 
(2) According to the EPA, this heat island ef-
fect can raise afternoon-to-evening temperatures of 
urban areas by up to 22 degrees Fahrenheit com-
pared to surrounding rural areas. 
(3) Higher air temperatures in urban areas lead 
to higher levels of ground level ozone pollution, com-
monly known as smog. 
(4) In hot weather, each additional degree Cel-
sius in heat causes approximately a 5-percent in-
crease in smog pollution, according to Lawrence 
Berkley National Laboratory studies. 
(5) Negative health impacts of smog include in-
creased incidence of asthma, throat irritation, scar-
ring of lung tissue, emphysema, and premature 
death. 
(6) The urban heat island effect increases elec-
tricity demand associated with air-conditioning; con-
versely, heat island mitigation through increased 
tree canopy can reduce air-conditioning costs by up 
to 50 percent, creating potential cost savings 
through lower Federal energy bills. 
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(7) According to the Lawrence Berkley Na-
tional Laboratory, the urban heat island is respon-
sible for 10 to 15 percent of peak electric demand, 
so mitigating the urban heat island effect will im-
prove the reliability of the power grid by reducing 
peak demand. 
(8) Urban heat island temperatures can be low-
ered by increasing tree canopy and by using paving 
and roofing materials with higher solar reflectivity. 
(9) Many metropolitan regions that include sub-
stantial Federal property, including the National 
Capital Region, fail to meet air quality standards for 
ozone. 
SEC. 3. HEAT ISLAND REDUCTION PLANS FOR FEDERAL 
PROPERTIES AND FACILITIES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than April 1, 2012, each 
Federal department or agency shall develop a heat island 
reduction plan for all Federal property and facilities that 
are— 
(1) under the possession or control of such de-
partment or agency; and 
(2) located in an area that is designated under 
section 107(d) of the Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. 
7407(d)) as being in nonattainment with respect to 
the national ambient air quality standards for ozone. 
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(b) CONTENTS.—Each heat island reduction plan 
under this section shall include measures— 
(1) to maximize tree cover on Federal property; 
and 
(2) to increase solar reflectivity through tech-
niques such as using roofs with high solar reflec-
tivity (cool roofs), vegetated roofs, and paving mate-
rials with higher solar reflectivity. 
(c) ANNUAL REPORT.—Not later than one year after 
the date of the enactment of this Act, and annually there-
after, the Administrator of the General Services Adminis-
tration shall submit to the Committee on Oversight and 
Government Reform of the House of Representatives and 
the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental 
Affairs of the Senate a report assessing the progress of 
Federal departments and agencies in developing and im-
plementing heat island reduction plans under this section. 
Æ 
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