Heat adaptation measures in private households: an application and adaptation of the protective action decision model

Extreme heatwaves will occur more frequently and with higher intensity in future. Their consequences for human health can be fatal if adaptation measures will not be taken. This study analyses factors related to heat adaptation measures in private households in Germany. During the summer months of 2019, indoor temperatures were measured in over 500 private households in the City of Augsburg, Germany, accompanied by a survey to find out about heat perception and adaptation measures. Hypotheses deducted from the Protective Action Decision Model were tested using one-way ANOVAs, regression analysis and in the end a multiple hierarchical regression model. The results of the hypotheses tested imply an influence of knowledge and heat risk perception of heat adaptation behaviour and an influence of age on heat risk perception. The results of the regression model show an influence of the efficacy-related attribute, of age, indoor temperature, subjective heat stress and health implications to heat adaptation behaviour. In the end, this study proposes adjustments to the PADM according to the results of the hierarchical regression analysis

Threshold temperatures for subjective heat stress in urban apartments — analysing nocturnal bedroom temperatures during a heat wave in Germany

As climate change progresses, it is causing more frequent and severe heat waves, resulting in higher indoor temperatures. Various temperature thresholds for indicating indoor overheating have been proposed in different contexts, extending from reduced comfort in buildings to subjective heat stress and onset of first or serious health problems. This study reviews these thresholds and identifies threshold values for subjective heat stress of occupants in the city of Augsburg, Germany, distinguishing between vulnerable and non-vulnerable households. Survey data from 427 private households are analysed using unpaired analysis of variances (ANOVA), t-tests and regression analysis to identify factors related to subjective heat stress at home during night-time. The findings imply that health implications during heat waves, age, local climate zones favouring the urban heat island effect and higher indoor temperature represent significant factors for subjective heat stress. A significant difference in subjective heat stress among different groups related to temperature could be identified for thresholds of 24.8 °C (people living alone) and 26.7 °C (people with chronic disease). As WHO threshold for health risk from overheating is 24 °C, people are apparently at heat-related risk without feeling that they are at risk, especially when they have chronic diseases; thus they may not see the urgency of taking adaptation measures

Challenges for Sustainable Biomass Utilisation : Proceedings of the Chilean-German Biociclo Workshop (Karlsruhe, 26.03.2009)

The energetic use of biomass can provide solutions for the growing worldwide demand for energy and fuel. This book contains the contributions for the final workshop of the "Biociclo" research exchange between the Universidad de Concepción and the Universität Karlsruhe. It reflects interdisciplinarity of the workshop\u27s participants with contributed papers about Biomass Utilization Paths in Chile, Pyrolysis and Life-Cycle Assessment of Biomass and Logistic Concepts of Biomass Utilization Concepts

Von Unternehmen zu Nationen

Ein sorgsamer Umgang mit natürlichen Ressourcen gehört zu den Kernthemen von Industrial Ecology. Mit der jeweiligen Betrachtungsebene, vom Unternehmen bis zur globalen Ebene, wechseln die Herausforderungen, Methoden und Lösungsansätze. Gibt es auch Indikatoren, die skalenübergreifend angewandt werden können

Quantifying urban heat exposure at fine scale - modeling outdoor and indoor temperatures using citizen science and VHR remote sensing

Global warming and advancing urbanization lead to an increased heat exposure for city dwellers. Especially during summertime heatwaves, extreme daytime as well as high nighttime temperatures expose vulnerable people to potentially deadly heat risk. This applies specifically to indoor air temperatures, since people spend a lot of their time indoors. Against this background, this study relates outdoor and indoor air temperature measurements to area-wide geospatial data regarding summertime urban heat in the city of Augsburg, Germany. Air temperature data is collected from formalized as well as citizen science measurements, while remote sensing data with very-high spatial resolution (VHR) is utilized for assessment of their drivers and influencing factors. A land use regression approach is developed for city-wide modeling of outdoor and indoor air temperatures at the level of individual residential buildings. Daytime outdoor temperatures could be largely explained by vegetation parameters and imperviousness, whereas nighttime temperatures were more related to the building stock and radiation properties. For indoor temperatures, building density as well as building height and volume are additionally relevant. Outdoor air temperatures could be modeled with higher accuracies (mean absolute error (MAE) < 0.5 °C) compared to indoor temperatures (MAE < 1.5 °C), whereas outdoor and indoor modeling results are consistent with well-known patterns across different local climate zones (LCZ)

Challenges for national clean air policy

Clean air policy faces not only the classical problems like multi-pollutant aspects but also complex consequences of instruments on production costs, competition and consumption. A new model can support clean air policy in Germany

National Integrated Assessment Modelling zur Bewertung umweltpolitischer Instrumente : Entwicklung des otello-Modellsystems und dessen Anwendung auf die Bundesrepublik Deutschland

Auf internationaler Ebene wurden Ziele zur Minderung von Luftschadstoff- und klimarelevanten Emissionen vereinbart, deren Umsetzung den jeweiligen Unterzeichnerstaaten obliegt. Hierzu existieren zahlreiche umweltpolitische Instrumente, deren Effektivität und Effizienz jedoch schwer abschätzbar sind. Daher ist es das Anliegen des im vorliegenden Buch beschriebenen otello-Modellsystems, solche politischen Instrumente in ihren ökologischen und ökonomischen Wirkungsmechanismen zu bewerten

Von Unternehmen zu Nationen : Skalen eines nachhaltigen Ressourcenmanagements

Ein sorgsamer Umgang mit natürlichen Ressourcen gehört zu den Kernthemen von Industrial Ecology. Mit der jeweiligen Betrachtungsebene, vom Unternehmen bis zur globalen Ebene, wechseln die Herausforderungen, Methoden und Lösungsansätze. Gibt es auch Indikatoren, die skalenübergreifend angewandt werden können