The Global Cool Cities Alliance (GCCA) has launched a Cool Roofs and Pavements Toolkit to help cities, regions, organizations, and building owners develop and deploy successful cool surface initiatives. The Toolkit is an on-line resource that GCCA will build up over time with targeted tools for a range of audiences, including government agencies and policymakers. It was initially launched in January 2012 with the publication of a primer and implementation guide. The second element in the Toolkit, due to launch by the end of April, is a publicly available, user-friendly cool surface and urban heat island knowledge base of best practices, success stories, research, code language, program examples, field data, presentations, images, and videos. The knowledge base will serve as a:

• Global clearinghouse of information for researchers and technical experts
• Dissemination of the best practices and activities of cities, regions, organizations
• Resource providing easy access to documentation from existing programs (e.g., requests for proposals, insurance forms, code/ordinance language, program guidelines) to give new implementers tangible examples to use for their programs.

For more information, visit coolrooftoolkit.org. The toolkit was developed in collaboration with R20 Regions of Climate Action.