Heat waves demand a rethinking of air conditioning

June 19, 2024 – “During extreme heat events, our buildings can turn into ovens, creating a heat crisis indoors that can pose serious health hazards,” writes Kari Nadeau, Chair of the Department of Environmental Health with colleague and director of the Harvard Healthy Buildings program, Joseph G. Allen, in a recent op-ed in the Boston Globe.

Nadeau and Allen warn that cities need to adapt to increasing instances of extreme heat stating that “too many cities are lax about this threat.” They recommend cities adopt maximum indoor temperature limits to ensure safety.

Nadeau and Allen also emphasize the importance of energy efficiency of cooling systems and recognizing when and how to respond to extreme heat. “If we’re going to cool people while not overheating the planet, cities must focus on keeping people safe from heat and address AC’s significant energy use.”

Read the Boston Globe article here: Heat waves like this one demand a rethinking of air conditioning.