Advancing Stormwater Capture for Greener Schools in Los Angeles

In communities across the United States, schools provide an enriching and safe environment
for children to learn and grow. Yet urban schools, particularly those serving under-resourced
communities, are often covered in asphalt and offer little green space. The lack of shade, combined
with intensely hot temperatures, can create dangerous conditions, with reports of asphalt reaching
140 degrees Fahrenheit and rubber surfaces reaching 165 degrees Fahrenheit (Klivans 2023). During
heavy rains, runoff from these impervious surfaces floods and drains into the surrounding community.
Climate change has exacerbated these impacts, leading to more extreme weather events, including
hotter temperatures, severe droughts, and intense storms.