Reports
We’re proud of introduce our latest work on extreme heat and air quality!
We are thrilled to share our working paper on residential heat exposure & policy recommendations!
Key takeaways:
Vulnerability of Older Residential Buildings: As climate change advances, rising temperatures will intensify extreme heat exposure at home. People living in older urban residential buildings (e.g., triple-deckers) are especially vulnerable to extreme heat.
Critical Role of Air Conditioning: This report emphasizes air conditioning as the primary way to reduce heat-related morbidity and mortality in residential settings in the short-term. However, some states and municipalities require cooling and energy efficiency which may better longer-term solutions. It explores the existing MA sanitary code, habitability codes around the U.S., and Landlord-Tenant agreements.
Equity and Policy Recommendations: The authors offer insights on short-term Massachusetts-based state and federal initiatives that could provide air conditioning access and utility relief to low-income residents (i.e., Expansion of LIHEAP grants to include funding for residential cooling).
Introducing the C-HEAT 2020-2022 Temperature Measurements and Adaptation Findings!
Explore the insights gained from the 2021 Photovoice Project!
Publications
PUBLISHED ON FEBRUARY 2025
McIntyre A, Heidari L, Hagen M, Bongiovanni R, Bowman BN, Fabian P, Kinney P, Scammell MK. Extreme Heat and Air Quality: Community Leader Perspectives on Information Barriers and Opportunities in Two Environmental Justice Communities. New Solut. 2025 Feb;34(4):256-267. doi: 10.1177/10482911241290557. Epub 2024 Oct 24. PMID: 39445356; PMCID: PMC11791651.
READ AT: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39445356/
PUBLISHED SUMMER 2023
C-HEAT (2023). Temperature Measurements and Adaptation Findings in Chelsea and East Boston, Massachusetts 2020-2022.
READ AT: https://www.c-heatproject.org/reports
PUBLISHED ON AUGUST 30, 2023
Our incredible team member at C-HEAT, Leila Heidari, has published a must-read blog post on her work with Boston-area communities to address extreme heat, heat disparities, tree inequity, and more!
READ AT: https://blog.ucsusa.org/science-blogger/boston-area-communities-work-together-to-beat-the-heat/
PUBLISHED ON DECEMBER 10, 2022
Milando, C. W., Black-Ingersoll, F., Heidari, L., López-Hernández, I., de Lange, J., Negassa, A., McIntyre, A. M., Botana Martinez, P., Bongiovanni, R., Levy, J. I., Kinney, P. L., Scammell, M. K., & Fabian, M. P. (2022). Mixed methods assessment of personal heat exposure, sleep, physical activity, and heat adaptation strategies among urban residents in the Boston area, MA. BMC Public Health, 22(1), 2314.
READ AT: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-022-14692-7
PUBLISHED ON JULY 11, 2022
McIntyre, A. M., Scammell, M. K., Botana Martinez, P., Heidari, L., Negassa, A., Bongiovanni, R., & Fabian, M. P. (2022). Facilitators and Barriers for Keeping Cool in an Urban Heat Island: Perspectives from Residents of an Environmental Justice Community. Environmental Justice.
READ AT: http://doi.org/10.1089/env.2022.0019
PUBLISHED ON JULY 13, 2022
Black-Ingersoll, F., de Lange, J., Heidari, L., Negassa, A., Botana Martinez, P., Fabian, M. P., & Scammell, M. K. (2022). A Literature Review of Cooling Center, Misting Station, Cool Pavement, and Cool Roof Intervention Evaluations. Atmosphere, 13(7), 1103.
READ AT: https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos13071103
PUBLISHED SUMMER 2022