Cooling Columbia: How Smart Surfaces Are Making a Big Impact in South Carolina

by Katie Schreiber for SCPHA Smart Surfaces

At the South Carolina Public Health Association, our Smart Surfaces Team has spent the  last two years tackling two growing threats to urban health: extreme heat and flooding.  Backed by a grant from the American Public Health Association, our mission has been  clear—educate the public and advocate for simple, nature-based solutions that can  protect communities and improve public health. 

When people first hear the term "smart surfaces," it can sound like a high-tech mystery.  I’ll admit—even I was once confused. But in reality, smart surface solutions are  wonderfully simple. They include things like: 

• Trees and green spaces 
• Porous pavements 
• Rain gardens and urban meadows 
• Solar panels 

These solutions reduce heat absorption and manage stormwater by replacing traditional  dark, impermeable surfaces with greener, more breathable options. They’re smart not  because they’re complex—but because they work. 

Two Years of Outreach and Impact 

Over the past two years, our team has hit the ground running in Columbia and surrounding  areas. We’ve hosted community tabling events, organized virtual webinars, and held  focus groups to better understand how extreme heat is affecting residents. What we  learned was eye-opening: 

• Many residents are worried about their dependence on air conditioning. • There are concerns about the impact of heat on pre-existing health conditions. • Energy costs are rising—adding further financial strain to households. 

With this feedback, we developed reports to share our findings and strategies—accessible  via our website and social media channels. But education is only the first step. 

From Education to Implementation: The Smart Surfaces Mini Grant 

This year, we’ve shifted from awareness to action by launching the Smart Surfaces Mini  Grant, designed to support local organizations that share our mission. We’re thrilled to be funding seven diverse and innovative projects, each contributing to the vision of a  cooler, greener Columbia. 

🌍 City of Columbia – Earth Day Climate Action Fair 

A successful kickoff event that brought the community together to learn about climate  change, get involved, and explore public health solutions. 

🌿 Gills Creek Watershed Association – Raingarden Workshops 

Hands-on community workshops to teach residents how to create rain gardens, reduce  stormwater runoff, and support native plant life in the Gills Creek region. 

🎨 South Carolina Energy Justice Coalition – Cool and Colorful Corridors 

An exciting mix of environmental-smart mural art and urban greening. These public murals,  painted with thermal-regulating paint and paired with shade trees, will beautify  neighborhoods while lowering surface temperatures. 

🏠 North Monticello Community Outreach – Weatherization and Energy Audits 

Educating residents of the Crane Creek Community about urban heat islands and home  energy solutions. This project also includes a full energy audit and weatherization  implementation at Zion Baptist Church. 

Investing in Research and Innovation 

We’re also supporting research that will deepen our understanding of smart surfaces and  their real-world effects. 

• The Richard T. Greener Institute for Social Policy Research is testing Cool Pave  Coat (CPC)—a reflective, weatherproof pavement—in Blythewood to reduce  surface temperatures. 
• Madison Nordberg, a UofSC master’s student, is studying heat narratives in  Lexington to improve how we communicate risks to different communities.
• Olarewaju Omomeji, a UofSC PhD student, is researching the quantifiable  benefits of smart surfaces using heat stress metrics in downtown Columbia.

What’s Next? 

These projects aim to: 

• Increase the use of smart surface solutions in Columbia 
• Raise awareness of climate change and public health risks 
• Boost community engagement 
• And most importantly—reduce climate impacts where they hit hardest 

We’re proud of what we’ve accomplished—and excited for what’s ahead. These projects  are just beginning, and many will offer volunteer opportunities and community events in  the months to come. 

If you’re passionate about sustainability, public health, or just want to help your  neighborhood stay cool—get involved. Follow us on social media, visit our website, and  come out to support these incredible local efforts. 

Together, we can build a smarter, cooler, and healthier Columbia.