Measuring health inequities due to housing characteristics

Abstract

Existing heat vulnerability assessment methods do not typically consider housing characteristics due to limited data and understanding of their effects. This research shows how heat vulnerability assessment methods can be used to identify and address indoor health inequities at the urban scale. The ResStock dataset is used to investigate the impact of housing characteristics on the indoor heat index during extreme heat events and power outages. The heat index is a measure that combines temperature and relative humidity to estimate the perceived temperature. Higher indoor heat index values are a good predictor of increased vulnerability to extreme heat, uncovering indoor health inequities. A case study in Worcester, Massachusetts, US, uses urban-scale energy modeling simulations for extreme heat and power outages to understand how housing characteristics (e.g. access to cooling or air-conditioning, housing age, and housing type) increase or decrease the indoor heat index value, as well as the rate of surpassing the critical 80°F (26.7°C) indoor heat index threshold. Findings demonstrate that indoor health inequities are exacerbated in homes without air conditioning, mobile homes and older homes. Policy relevance This study highlights a critical link between access to air-conditioning and newer housing in reducing the rise of indoor heat index values during extreme heat events and power outages. The findings underscore indoor health inequities because of housing characteristics. Policymakers hold the key to diminishing these inequities by implementing resilience measures such as expanding access to cooling, prioritizing vulnerability during rolling blackouts, and backup power sources such as generators and batteries, as well as strategically retrofitting existing housing to meet modern building codes and standards. Swift public health strategies and actions (responses in less than 6 h) are needed to protect the most vulnerable during an extreme heat event or a blackout.

Keywords

• adaptation
• building stock
• extreme heat
• housing
• indoor temperature
• inequity
• public health
• overheating
• thermal performance
• vulnerability