Simulation programs can help predict the energy use of individual buildings, and the results can then be used to determine effective means of reducing consumption. It is also useful to look at collections of buildings, specifically the exterior surfaces of those buildings such as roofs and facades and interstitial surfaces, for example, parking lots, sidewalks, parks, and roads. This is especially important in urban areas, where density and hardscaping causes a condition called the Urban Heat Island Effect (UHI). This proposal summarizes the current and future development of an urban scale computer modelling software program that first combines solar insolation measurements, material characteristics, and vegetation to help designers to study, predict, and suggest solutions to mitigate the UHI effect and allow for testing of strategies such as albedo modifications and increased use of planted areas that may prove productive in lessening overall energy consumption.
