Case Study: the City of Louisville, KY combats urban heat islands with Davey Resource Group tree canopy assessment

City of Louisville, KY combats urban heat with Davey and 45% tree canopy goal

The City of Louisville, KY faced a significant urban heat island effect, ranking as the fourth hottest urban area in the country. This led to increased energy costs, worsened air pollution, and serious public health concerns. To combat this, the city engaged Davey Resource Group to conduct an urban tree canopy assessment.

Davey Resource Group performed a historical analysis of the city's tree canopy to establish a baseline and identify heat-stressed "hot spots." They then created a prioritized planting plan to strategically expand the canopy. As a result of this work, Louisville is now on a path to achieve its goal of 45% canopy cover. The existing urban forest is already estimated to save $5 million in energy costs annually, and the new plantings will further reduce ambient temperatures in the hottest areas.

City of Louisville, KY