City of Zurich wants to reduce heat
The city of Zurich would like to take action against an overheated urban climate. In addition to measures in the building sector, a pilot project has been launched in which rainfalls are held back in the city like a sponge. The ZHAW is monitoring the project.
The city of Zurich is reacting to the heat waves of the past summer and wants to arm the city for future temperature-related stresses. On the one hand, measures are planned to be implemented in new construction projects. And on the other hand, the principle of the sponge city is to be implemented in pilot projects, as can be seen in a communication.
This principle was developed to minimize flooding. To this end, rainfalls in the city are to be held back like a sponge and only gradually channeled into the water and groundwater. However, this principle is also intended to reduce global warming in Zurich. To this end, part of the Giessereistrasse in Zurich has been converted in a pilot project. For the sponge city principle, many factors such as the gradient of the road, the road surface, permeable curbs and lockable mud collectors must be taken into account. The aim is to ensure that rainwater only runs into the sewer system in winter. In the rest of the year, it should be diverted into the vegetation, where it slowly evaporates and thus contributes to cooling. At the end of the structural work, nine new trees have now been planted.
The project, which will cost 680,000 francs, is currently designed for the period up to 2024. The Zurich University of Applied Sciences (ZHAW) ensures scientific monitoring.