Sustainable Energy Paint the Town White--and Green Urban heat islands are not inevitable, but the product of dark roofs, black pavement, and loss of vegetation. A “cool communities” approach would lower air-conditioning use and make the air healthier. by Arthur H. Rosenfeld , Joseph J. Romm , Hashem Akbari , and Alan C. Lloyd 1997-02-01T00:00:00-05:00