Those who are at risk of poverty tend to live more often in a “heat island” – i.e. where urban buildings are dense and traffic causes high environmental pollution. This is the conclusion drawn by experts from Danube University Krems.
According to Tania Berger from the Department for Building and Environment, city dwellers are “disproportionately exposed” to the heat. According to Berger, less energy-efficient buildings are “heat traps”. People with little wealth would often not be able to afford alternatives such as a beach holiday, a trip to a body of water in summer or refrigerators.
The summer heat also has a negative impact on children living in poverty. This is the result of a study by Gesundheit Österreich GmbH (GÖG) and Volkshilfe, which surveyed 190 children from 99 households affected by poverty. 85 percent of the children complained more about thirst because of the heat. More than half of the children stated that they were sleeping less well. Also, more than 50 percent showed symptoms of restlessness or aggressive behavior.
renovations necessary
Therefore, according to the experts from the GÖG and the Danube University, renovations to buildings are particularly important. According to Berger, buildings are “our primary protection against heat”. However, tenants in multi-party buildings would have little influence on the facade design. Investments in energy-efficient cooling systems are also needed for new buildings.
Source: Nachrichten
