Memphis, TN

As a Southern port city along the Mississippi River, the experience of heat in Memphis can vary widely based on proximity to the river, nearby greenspaces, and residents’ ability to escape the crushing summer humidity. Memphis is the headquarters of Federal Express, and as a result boasts a large airport that can further contribute to heat. Increasingly, Memphis becoming a home for data centers to power generative AI which may also have an impact on local heat and energy consumption. A recent study identified a nearly twenty-year life expectancy difference among residents living in different neighborhoods within the city.

The Memphis Heat Watch campaign sought to learn more about how heat may play a role in this dramatic difference in life expectancy by bring together a diverse coalition of partners, including a community-focused nonprofit (The Works, Inc.), representatives from the City of Memphis and Shelby County, as well as faculty and students from the University of Memphis who focus on city and regional planning. Together, this team conducted an ambitious campaign to develop a heat map for the sprawling city of Memphis. Data has recently been analyzed and reports prepared by CAPA Strategies and will be made available in the coming months.

The Memphis team and volunteers pose for a photo with virtual participants in Heat Watch training.