NYC residents: 350 people die from heatstroke every year
1. Deaths from heatstroke are increasing sharply in the US
2. In 2020, 12% of the US, or 12.7 million homes, do not have air conditioning
Summary from an article published by Reuters.
Summer in New York: Report on heat-related deaths
New York City has released the 2024 edition.
1. 350 New Yorkers die each year from heatstroke
2. The most important risk is not having air conditioning in rented housing.
Latest US household statistics:
As of 2020, about 12% of households in the US (about 12.7 million homes) do not have air conditioning.
Many households have simple cooling devices. However, they cannot cope with heat waves.
Boston University survey:
A survey of 115 metropolitan areas in the US was conducted in 2022.
Households without air conditioning are low-income renters.
World Health Organization:
Heatstroke is the most common cause of climate-related deaths worldwide each year.
Most of these deaths occur indoors.
Reuters investigates 50 states:
Reuters investigated housing regulations in 50 states.
1. Nearly half of the states require homeowners to use existing, older air conditioners.
2. Not a single state requires the installation of new air conditioners.
US rental regulations:
New air conditioners are very different from water, sewer, and heating equipment.
3. Not a single US state requires new air conditioners as required equipment.
4. Meanwhile, the number of states imposing room temperature limits for rental housing is rapidly increasing.
US real estate laws examined:
Reuters examined real estate laws and interviewed 10 policymakers and housing regulators.
1. The number of US municipalities that have introduced air conditioning installation requirements has increased sharply in the past five years.
2. It has been found that there are six such municipalities, including the city of New Orleans and Clark County, Nevada.
In the 20 years prior to that, there were only seven such municipalities in the US.
US room temperature upper limit standards and proposed regulations:
Proposed regulations have now been submitted in New York, Los Angeles, and Austin to impose room temperature upper limits on rental housing.
1. The New York proposal sets the upper limit at 26 degrees Celsius.
2. The Austin proposal sets the upper limit at 29 degrees Celsius.
3. In Los Angeles, the target value for the proposed regulations has not yet been decided.
In Los Angeles, it is impossible to renovate rental housing to install air conditioning and ventilation measures.
Influential landlord lobbying groups oppose:
Influential landlord lobbying groups are intensifying their opposition.
1. In recent years, similar regulations have been rejected in California, Texas, and Arkansas.
2. They argued that rent increases would be necessary to cover the additional costs of air conditioning.
Landlord lobby group: California Apartment Association
Debra Carlton, executive vice president for state government relations, said.
1. The association will not support mandatory air conditioning installation unless an economical way can be found.
2. A California bill proposed for 2022 was rejected due to opposition from landlords.
New York City is considering:
Mayor Adams has set the introduction of summer room temperature regulations by 2030 as one of his policy goals.
The proposed regulations submitted in July would require rental housing to be kept at 26 degrees or lower when the outside temperature is 28 degrees or higher.
City Councilman Lincoln Lester, who proposed the regulations:
He said that if the regulations are approved, they would benefit 750,000 renters who do not have air conditioning.
This year’s UN report:
Modeled estimates for 2000-2019: 489,000 people died from heatstroke annually.
US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:
2,302 people died from heatstroke in 2023, compared to 1,602 in 2021.
However, they point out that this data is a significant underestimate.
What’s happening in Maricopa County, Arizona:
Maricopa County, Arizona, is one of the few places that tracks indoor and outdoor heat-related deaths.
Temperatures here are not uncommon at over 100 degrees Fahrenheit.
What’s happening in Phoenix and Tempe:
Two cities in the county, Phoenix and Tempe, have room temperature caps in place.
But 156 indoor heatstroke deaths were recorded last year, a five-fold increase over the past decade.
In 2023, Phoenix and Tempe are not doing as badly as other cities in the county that do not have room temperature caps.
Public Health Statistics:
The percentage of indoor heatstroke deaths was:
1. 21% in Phoenix and 17% in Tempe.
2. The county average was 24%, and in Scottsdale and Mesa it was over 32%.
Oregon and Washington Response:
Record-breaking heatwaves in recent years have prompted both states to impose new regulations.
The 2021 “heat dome” phenomenon hit the Pacific Northwest.
Tenant-Installed AC Bill:
Tenant-installed AC measures have been approved.
1. Oregon approved tenant-installed AC in 2022.
2. Spokane, Washington approved tenant-installed AC in 2024.
The Situation in Hot Springs, Arkansas:
But the hottest city in the U.S. has failed to enact laws to keep rooms safe.
Arkansas Mountains:
Hot Springs dropped a proposed regulation on air conditioning standards for rental housing last year.
Hot Springs City Council President Phyllis Baird said it was due to protests from homeowners’ associations.
Texas: Dallas, El Paso and Houston:
Texas Representative Cheryl Cole also spoke to local media.
The cities of Dallas, El Paso and Houston have room temperature standards.
A state-level bill was defeated last year due to opposition from the Texas Apartment Association.
Austin is currently considering a new regulation.
Hot and humid Florida response:
Since 2021, there have been four failed attempts to mandate air conditioning.
1. Installing air conditioning makes economic sense in humid Florida.
2. Air conditioners have a dehumidifying function and are a device that prevents damage to properties.
State Senator Jason Pizzo (Democrat) has consulted with several homeowners’ associations.
As a result, they are confident that the regulations can be introduced within the next two years.
Los Angeles County Landlords Association:
The Los Angeles County Landlords Association is stepping up its opposition to the proposed room temperature regulation.
1. If the air conditioning installation proposal is passed in an apartment building, rent increases will lead to forced evictions.
2. If the renovation period for a rental property is more than 30 days, the landlord can evict the tenant.
Model cost for air conditioning installation:
The American Association of Home Inspectors has calculated the model cost for air conditioning installation.
1. It usually costs $5,000-$10,000 to install a central air conditioning system.
2. It costs $400 to install a window-mounted air conditioner.
3. To use air conditioning equipment in an older house, the electrical system will also need to be updated.
https://jp.reuters.com/markets/global-markets/4XUB4VBST5K5LLGWHIP7Q2JBYA-2024-08-11/