The SJR has news about the Illinois Fan Club, a partnership among state agencies to provide fans to the elderly and people with disabilities. Deaths from excess heat are a bigger problem than most people think; in typical years, heat waves are the big killers among natural disasters. Eric Klinenberg's Heat Wave, about the 1995 Chicago heat wave, is an excellent, in-depth look at how heat waves kill.
Fans and air conditioning are only part of it. Energy prices are, of course, a big part as well--it's apparently not uncommon to find people dead in their rooms, with functioning a/c's that simply haven't been turned on, because people worry about the cost. The unexpected element, though, is social capital--being part of overlapping social networks. Something as simple as having someone to look in to see how you're doing is an important part of simply surviving a heat wave.
So the Fan Club is an important short-term part of managing a heat wave. But we need long-term strategies, too. We need to improve building performance, particularly for low-income families and the elderly--households for whom energy bills are a major budget item. (When I lived in Nevada, the average energy burden--the percent of monthly income going to household energy costs--across the state was 3%. For low-income households, the energy burden was 14%.) Luckily, energy efficiency spending goes directly to this--CWLP's money devoted to low-income and elderly households is crucial here. However, I'm not sure that CWLP is hooked into service providers in Springfield to help it identify households that need summertime help.
However, we also need a better city. We need neighborhoods and communities that connect everyone together, and connect people to emergency services and information. We need investment in our poorer neighborhoods.
Comments (4)
One thing that would help cool the east side is street-side trees. Shading streets, especially in the late afternoon, helps cut down on the heat island effect, which can boost summertime temperatures in cities an average of 4-6 degrees. I read this in an energy bulletin put out by the original George Bush, if you can believe it, and the writer said the words "global warming" too.
A lot of trees here on the east side were removed in the course of a tornado and two ice storms. The ones left are quite battered. If we could replant the east side with trees, preferably food-producing ones, it would help with the heating costs. Many people here do not have air conditioning. A lot of us sit on our porches at night. It's great for community!
Posted by carey | June 27, 2007 3:27 PM
Posted on June 27, 2007 15:27
Absolutely. And one of the great things about trees is how multifunctional they are. Aesthetics, shading for buildings, shading to reduce the heat island effect, stormwater management. I imagine they also help with traffic control by enclosing the street more, which serves as a cue to drivers to slow down.
Posted by Greg C | June 28, 2007 9:44 AM
Posted on June 28, 2007 09:44
Trees are an excellent way to decrease the need for air conditioning over the summer months. I live in Sacramento, CA where the temps often go over 100. The local utility has been running a free shade tree program for 10-15 years. The benefits to the customers and utility are great!
Another useful idea is the "One cool room" program. The idea is to create at least one room, using a room a/c unit, that folks can seek relief in.
Posted by Bob | June 29, 2007 11:12 AM
Posted on June 29, 2007 11:12
Bob,
Don't worry, we definitely keep an eye on SMUD and promote a lot of what y'all are doing to our utility.
I'd be interested in hearing more about the "One cool room" idea--can you provide a link? Is it just social marketing, or do they provide incentives and assistance in setting it up? I mean, and does it go beyond just putting in an A/C and closing the door?
Posted by Greg C | June 29, 2007 11:22 AM
Posted on June 29, 2007 11:22