The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors on Aug. 1 adopted two motions aimed at improving environmental protections.

The first motion mandates that all new construction, building additions or major roof replacements use “cool roof” materials. The second authorizes a four-month study to assess the feasibility of banning the use of polystyrene (commonly known as Styrofoam) products.

“These days, it is increasingly important that environmental leadership come from local and state governments,” said Supervisor Sheila Kuehl, 3rd District, lead author of the motions. “L.A. County is constantly moving ahead with new initiatives including [the] motions. Cool roofs are an innovative way to lower temperatures and reduce energy consumption. Polystyrene is not biodegradable and is a major contributor to litter in our rivers and ocean. These are smart, forward-looking steps that we must take to protect our environment for future generations.”

By 2050, Los Angeles County is expected to experience warmer temperatures, making the region even more vulnerable to the “urban heat island effect” in which temperatures rise because of radiating heat from asphalt roofs and roads, Kuehl said. The urban heat island effect jeopardizes public health by increasing heat-related injury and death, especially in low-income communities with fewer trees and less access to air conditioning. “Cool roofs,” made of highly reflective materials, absorb up to 65 percent less heat than conventional roofs and help reduce interior and ambient temperatures. Lower temperatures reduce smog formation and reduce energy consumption.

The second motion approved by the board calls for a report on the feasibility of banning polystyrene, a material widely used in plastic straws, plastic cups and food containers. Polystyrene products are a major contributor to litter that ends up in local waterways, Kuehl said. Styrene, a component of polystyrene, is not biodegradable and is known to cause cancer in lab animals. The motion asks for a report back to the board in 120 days on the potential of banning polystyrene.

“Polystyrene products are piling up in our landfills and polluting our beaches,” said Supervisor Janice Hahn, 4th District, co-author of the motion. “Better alternatives exist and cities across California, including Manhattan Beach and Hermosa Beach, have already adopted successful bans that have been embraced by the community and local businesses. We need to reexamine the impact polystyrene is having on our health and our environment and consider whether it is time to enact a ban in our unincorporated communities.”

Los Angeles County chief sustainability officer Gary Gero underscored the importance of both motions.

“L.A. now joins with many cities and becomes the third county in the state to move to require new roofs to be cooler. This effort, along with the recognition that polystyrene poses serious environmental and health hazards that must be addressed, reflects the county’s growing willingness and leadership to take action to protect the communities we serve. These actions set important precedents for us to build upon as we draft the County Sustainability Plan.”