The City of Tucson has gotten 7 degrees hotter just from the urban heat island, solely on how the city was designed and built. With climate change, the city has warmed another 5 degrees, making Tucson 12 degrees warmer. Here’s the good news: we each can help reverse the warming trend at our own homes, schools, churches, businesses, streets and parks.
What is the urban heat island?
The urban heat island effect is when our built environment—our roads, parking lots, and buildings—absorb the sun’s heat during the day and then continue to release the heat into the night. On the other hand, nature—trees, shrubs, vines, natural groundcovers, rivers, and wetlands—mitigates the heat and reduces surrounding temperatures.
Create a micro-climate to cool your corner by 5 degrees
We can each do our part to cool our city, by learning from and mimicking nature, observing the sun, wind, plants, soil, and rain. A rain garden, with mulched ground in conjunction with plants that transpire, allows for spaces to be dramatically cooler. Plus you get the added benefit of creating habitat for birds and other wildlife, and mental/physical wellness as these spaces are quieter, cooler and are visually pretty. Check out our Summer 2025 Newsletter for details on how to create cooler outdoor spaces!
Cooling Consultations
Do you have a space that retains or reflects too much heat, contact Nicole Parks (nparks@watershedmg.org) for a consultation. She will come out, identify hot zones in your area and provide you with a plan to address those areas using the natural evaporative cooling power of plants! The cooling consultations are free for community spaces: schools, churches and HOA's as well as individual households who have gone through our Cool Tucson workshops this past spring.
Option 1
- A one hour onsite visit where we assess hot spots and view current resources you have onsite that can be used to cool your space. You will receive a heat assessment map, resource map, and a native plant guide.
Option 2
- A one hour onsite visit where we assess hot spots and view current resources you have onsite that can be used to cool your space. You will receive a heat assessment map, resource map, and a native plant guide.
- Additionally, you will get a Cooling Landscape Plan which includes water harvesting calculations, native plant recommendations, recommended water harvesting and shade tree locations.
Option 3*
- A one hour onsite visit where we assess hot spots and view current resources you have onsite that can be used to cool your space.
- You will receive a heat assessment map, resource map, and native plant guide.
- We will work with your organization to plan and install a Cooling Landscape Project through an educational workshop. The workshop will build hands-on skills and educate volunteers, staff, and community members on rain garden installation and care.
*only availble for community spaces
Cool Tucson Upcoming Events
Desert Living Home Tours
We offer monthly tours of homes, businesses, or neighborhoods that have integrated Cool Tucson principles. Learn from your neighbors and get inspired!
- Catherine's East Side habitat restoration home tour: October 4th
- Melanie & Nick's West Side Family Compound: November 1st
Cool Tucson Workshops
Learn skills to help cool Tucson!
- Bike Repair Workshop: August 20
- Get Rolling Workshop - Bike Safety, Gear, and Trip Planning: September 27th
You can register for any of these events using our event calendar
