More Heat Island Effect – really?

So, there’s more sustainability planned for the renovation at my home. The 3-lane dark asphalt driveway will be replaced by two lanes of light-colored pervious pavers or loose stone and possibly one lane of open-grid pavers. (The image with firetruck is meant to demonstrate the weighting capacity of this system.) Either/both will contribute to a lessened heat island effect at our property with a bonus: less contaminated driveway residue running the roads into the South River during rainfall.

For St. Margaret’s, 1 LEED point can be earned if, for example, 50% of the site-area hardscape takes the form of open-grid paving or these same areas are tree canopy-shaded within 5 years of project occupancy.