Houston is experiencing increased urban heat due to the presence of about 10,000 acres of abandoned buildings and an additional 45,000 acres of paved but vacant lots, according to a report from Bisnow citing research by Texas A&M University. These areas contribute significantly to higher land surface temperatures in the city.
Researcher Dingding Ren from Texas A&M found that concrete-covered spaces can make land surface temperatures up to 20 degrees hotter than areas with vegetation. This finding was based on analysis using drone imagery and NASA satellite data.
The issue comes as Houston faces rising average temperatures, part of a global trend of record heat over the past decade. The city also has one of the highest office vacancy rates in the United States, currently at about 26 percent.
Concrete absorbs and slowly releases heat, causing abandoned buildings and vacant lots to remain warmer for longer periods compared to vegetated land that helps cool its surroundings. In response, Houston has started demolishing unsafe and vacant properties, including some buildings in Midtown scheduled for demolition before the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Other measures focus on mitigating rather than removing these structures. The Resilient Houston plan includes proposals such as installing lighter-colored roofs, expanding tree canopy coverage, and planting 4.6 million native trees by 2030. Trees For Houston leads this initiative and expects to plant approximately 800,000 trees within this decade.
Developers are increasingly involved in these efforts by incorporating shade trees and reflective materials into new construction projects. “When everyone shares responsibility — the city, NGOs and developers — that’s when we really move the ball down the field,” Ward said.
There are economic impacts associated with so-called “heat islands.” Hotter pavement and rooftops can discourage tourism, put stress on energy systems, and lower economic productivity.
“We set out to build a climate-controlled city,” Downtown Houston+ CEO Kristopher Larson said during his State of Downtown address last week. “Now, we’re learning to embrace our outdoor spaces again.”
Public spaces like Discovery Green have become popular destinations despite high temperatures; it draws more than three million visitors each year. The city aims to expand similar approaches by redesigning streets such as McKinney and Preston with more trees and shaded areas as part of its Downtown Public Realm Action Plan.
