The talk will discuss Cool Streets, an initiative that combines scientific research with public engagement to deliver effective street tree planting to reduce urban heat and improve climate adaptation. This draws upon Libby Gallagher’s doctoral research that used a combination of new and existing modelling techniques to develop site specific models to ascertain street tree benefits. These simulation models found that modest design changes to street tree planting and layout can achieve 7 times more CO² reductions than standard street design and can reduce electricity bills by over $400 per annum.
The results of an award-winning pilot project in western Sydney, using the method will be discussed.
Dr Libby Gallagher
Libby, director of Gallagher Studio, is a landscape architect with over 20 years of experience. Libby’s delivered innovative public domain, strategic and urban design projects whilst in practice in the UK, Canada, and the Asia pacific. Libby has dedicated the last five years to researching the design and delivery of high quality public spaces to address climate change and has completed a PHD focused on climate adaptation for urban streets.
Gallagher studio’s “Cool Streets’ pilot project in Western Sydney, based on this PHD research won an AILA 2017 National Award of Excellence. She has taught in undergraduate and graduate programs at UNSW, UTS and USYD.