Climate Change and the Indoor Thermal Environment: Implications for Public Health Policy

The indoor residential environment is a critical component of public health. Research indicates that people in the U.S. spend approximately 90% of their time indoors. The home environment also serves as one of the first lines of defense against climate hazards such as extreme heat events, but the level of protection that it offers is highly dependent on socioeconomic factors. In the U.S., decades of systemic housing discrimination have resulted in housing quality issues that disproportionately fall on racialized minority and low-income populations. In addition, a growing body of literature demonstrates that, on average in the U.S., people of color and those living below the poverty line live in census tracts with higher summer daytime temperatures.

Many municipalities around the country are beginning to consider indoor residential cooling standards to protect human health as temperatures rise due to climate change. New Orleans is one of the first cities in the country to implement a rental cooling standard. The New Orleans’s Healthy Homes Program, effective January 1, 2024, aims to ensure that all rental property in New Orleans meets specific housing safety and maintenance requirements, including cooling systems capable of keeping rooms at a maximum of 80°F. However, challenges to implementing these standards remain under-researched.

The New Orleans Home, Environment, and Ambient Temperature: Measurements and Analysis for Preparedness (NOLA HEAT-MAP) Study enrolled 72 participants from the 9th Ward of New Orleans, LA. Demographic and housing characteristic data were captured during initial interviews. Sensors were used to continuously monitor temperature and humidity in participants’ homes over a two- or four-week period. Participants also responded to daily surveys about their physical and mental health. Our data shows that, across renters and homeowners, approximately 25% of participant person-days (n = 323) had a daily mean indoor temp above 80°F, while 75% of person-days (n = 983) had a daily mean indoor temp at or below 80°F. In this presentation, we will describe individual and home characteristics that might facilitate or hinder meeting the 80°F mark, how this relates to health, and how this may inform establishment and implementation of indoor residential cooling standards.