FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Council Communications
Atlanta City Hall
55 Trinity Ave. SW
Atlanta, GA 30303

June 2, 2025

Atlanta City Council Member Liliana Bakhtiari and Health Leaders Issue Statements Following Approval of Smart Surface Policy

ATLANTA —

District 5 Atlanta City Council member Liliana Bakhtiari, several public health experts, and urban planners released statements after the City Council approved legislation aimed at addressing a climate and public health threat, extreme heat caused by darker roofing materials that generate “heat islands” in neighborhoods throughout the city.

With the passage of City of Atlanta Ordinance 25-O-1310, Atlanta becomes a national leader in smart surface policy by requiring new roofs to meet high solar reflectance standards, an evidence-based strategy to cool neighborhoods, save money, and save lives. The ordinance amends the City of Atlanta building code to add a new section for roofing reflectance standards to reduce heat produced by darker roofing materials.

Council member Bakhtiari authored the ordinance to protect the city's most vulnerable neighborhoods by reducing ambient temperatures, lowering energy costs, and preventing carbon admissions emissions, saving lives.

"This decisive action is about one thing: Responsibility. Responsibility to our residents, to our most vulnerable neighbors, and future generations," said Bakhtiari. "This legislation is not just about roofs; it's about resilience. It's about protecting health, reducing energy burdens, and standing up for communities that have been overlooked for far too long. Atlanta is not just talking about climate justice; we're delivering it."

Outdated, dark, heat-absorbing roofs have manufactured conditions where some Atlanta neighborhoods retain heat more than others, putting seniors, children, and low-income communities at the most significant risk of illness and death from heat exposure.

Jimmie Smith, Jr., MD, MPH, president of the Georgia Public Health Association, said, "This ordinance supports evidence-based science, works through a lens that is knowledgeable of the social determinants of health, and seeks to address the environmental and health conditions that affect the most vulnerable among us. Atlanta leaders are known for transformational actions, not reactions. This ordinance is projected to cool the city by up to 6.3°F in certain neighborhoods, resulting in $310 million in energy savings and preventing millions of tons of carbon emissions. But more importantly, it will save lives."

The ordinance was developed in coordination with public health leaders, urban planners, clean air advocates, and national energy efficiency experts.

"This ordinance will save a lot of people a lot of money," added Steve Nadel, executive director of the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy. "It is a technically brilliant, cost-effective strategy to protect Atlanta from rising heat and rising energy bills."

Dr. Brian Stone, Jr., director of Georgia Tech's Urban Climate Lab added, "With the adoption of a best-in-class cool roofing ordinance, Atlanta is taking decisive action to slow the impacts of rising temperatures. The approval represents real climate leadership at a moment when local governments must lead."

Harold Wimmer, president and CEO of the American Lung Association, shared, "Lighter-colored roofs substantially reduce the urban heat island and associated ozone pollution, in turn reducing asthma and COPD exacerbations and lung infections. The American Lung Association commends the City of Atlanta on taking this commonsense action to protect its residents."

The ordinance builds on a series of policy victories for environmental justice and energy equity in Atlanta, including the creation of a Community Energy Trust Fund and a commitment to expand the city's tree canopy.

About Atlanta City Council
The Atlanta City Council is the chief policy-making body for the City of Atlanta. It acts by considering and enacting all laws that govern the city. The Council also approves the operating and capital budgets for the City as recommended by the mayor, and it continually monitors revenues and expenditures for local government operations. The Atlanta City Council reviews and decides on many land use and zoning matters. Major economic development projects for the City also fall under the Council’s jurisdiction.

The City Council is composed of 12 districts and three at-large posts. Council representatives are Council President: Doug Shipman; District 1: Jason Winston; District 2: Amir Farokhi; District 3: Byron Amos; District 4: Jason S. Dozier; District 5: Liliana Bakhtiari; District 6: Alex Wan; District 7: Howard Shook; District 8: Mary Norwood; District 9: Dustin Hillis; District 10: Andrea L. Boone; District 11: Marci Collier Overstreet; District 12: Antonio Lewis; Post 1 At-Large: Michael Julian Bond; Post 2 At-Large: Matt Westmoreland; and Post 3 At-Large: Eshé Collins.

To learn more about the Atlanta City Council, please visit http://citycouncil.atlantaga.gov/. For the latest updates, follow the Atlanta City Council on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

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Office of Council Communications Contacts: 

Zena Lewis
zolewis@atlantaga.gov
404-330-6309 

William Doughty
wdoughty@atlantaga.gov
404-330-6056 

Tiffanie Kelly
trkelly@atlantaga.gov
404-330-6014