Temperatures are constantly rising in every city in the United States, but not as fast as in the city of Las Vegas. The city has expanded rapidly, paving the desert landscape with heat-absorbing roads and concrete. As this valley’s population continues to increase, the growth of development shifts outwards instead at the region’s inner core, increasing commutes that contribute to more carbon emissions. Wondering what we can do as a community to slow down the rising temperature? There are plenty of different things we can do moving forward to help reduce carbon emissions and the environmental impacts on expansion.

Building materials can help make a difference in slowing down the effects climate change has on the valley. Glass with specific tints and certain roofing materials can reflect instead of absorbing the sunlight. Buildings can be built to be carbon-neutral by switching to electricity from renewable sources, replacing natural gas appliances with electric, and using low-carbon concrete alternatives. Homeowners can consider having a green roof built to help cool down interior temperatures and offset the “urban heat island” effect, which occurs when city asphalt surfaces absorb and radiate heat, increasing the local air temperature. Such building strategies and material choices can help homeowners to reduce the temperatures of their homes and reduce their environmental impact, especially important for the climate of Las Vegas.

To meet the growing demand for housing as the city grows, many developers look to maximize the profits made from large subdivisions and don’t always choose to build with sustainability and climate in mind. However, it is a possibility that if manufacturers, architects, developers, and planners commit to using sustainable building practices in response to the warming Las Vegas and warmer global environment, that eco-friendly building can help improve the climate and mitigate the effects of the rising temperature. Building developers can help influence climate planning, while homeowners can advocate for implementing sustainability in their home design.