What U.S. cities can learn from Abu Dhabi about surviving record heat

It’s not unusual for Abu Dhabi to hit a sweltering 108 degrees in the summer—the same temperature that recently broke all-time records in Seattle. As climate change makes extreme heat more common, what can American or European cities learn from the Middle East? I talked to an urban designer about strategies that Abu Dhabi is using to make neighborhoods more comfortable in heat waves, such as optimizing shade and aligning pathways with local winds. The region may be a decade ahead of the U.S., he says, in figuring out how to cope with extreme heat.
— Adele Peters

world changing ideas

As U.S. cities continue to heat up, they’re looking to design solutions from places that already have to manage extreme temperatures. Read more.

recommender

Six well-designed fans that will cool your home and keep it stylish

These breezy fans will keep your room’s feng shui intact. Read more.

CO.DESIGN

This whiter-than-white paint cools buildings down dramatically. Why isn’t it everywhere?

The paint, made of barium sulfate, has a dark side. Read more.

These maps show you where to move once climate change makes parts of the U.S. unlivable

Increasing extreme heat, flooding, and fires will all contribute to reshaping where people can live. Read more.

recommender

10 products that will help you sleep cooler at night

Tired of waking up in a sweat? Here are 10 ways to stay cool at night. Read more.

co.design

How an ancient design technique could help us survive extreme heat, no AC needed

Can passive design keep our houses cool? Read more.

world changing ideas

Miami is the first city in the world with a chief heat officer

It’s about climate change, not basketball. Read more.

tips for extreme heat

6 simple hacks that will cool you down without air-conditioning during the coming heat wave

As climate change causes extreme heat in unexpected places, people without AC may not think they have the ability to lower the temperature inside. But there are ways to cool down, even if you’re not able to buy a new appliance. Read more.

impact

Why do Americans like it to be 72 degrees inside?

Shifting cultural assumptions about the ‘right’ indoor temperature could save us incredible amounts of energy—and let us fundamentally rethink how we design offices. Read more.

FREE SPONSORED E-BOOK OF THE DAY

The #1 Skill You Need to Speak for Leadership

Click here to download your free e-book.

Thanks for reading! We'll see you back here tomorrow morning. Have questions or comments? Email us at newsletters@fastcompany.com. Happy Sunday!

Support strength in journalism
Join Fast Company Premium for $1

You can update your details here.
If you don’t want to receive Compass anymore, unsubscribe here
If you were forwarded Compass and like it, subscribe here

View this newsletter online

7 World Trade Center, 29th Floor, New York, NY 10007-2195

What U.S. cities can learn from Abu Dhabi about surviving record heat

Older messages

The emotionally intelligent way to answer these 10 interview questions

See the road sign that’s about to take over America

ICYMI—The Fast Company Innovation Festival Is Back!

5 great apps to help declutter your home—and your life

You’re dealing with burnout the wrong way. Here are 3 tactics that will help

You Might Also Like

India's EVMs have a trust problem

Easy way to define culture of the company

Going... Going... Almost Gone

MatterGen's Breakthroughs: How AI Shapes the Future of Materials Science

The best weekend of the year

The Verge Trolls Google...Again!

LUC #50 [Special Edition]: The Most Popular Issues of the LUC Newsletter

Binance Converts Bitcoin Fund to USDC

Networking for Value vs Breadth

Influence Weekly #333 - Creators Cash In: Paid User-Generated Content Offering Explodes 93% In 2023