Hundreds of people who perished during the historic heat wave in British Columbia last summer died in homes ill-suited for temperatures that spiked into the high 30s and beyond for days, a report by B.C.'s coroners' service found this month.
Of 619 deaths linked to the heat, 98 per cent happened indoors, the review from the coroners' service shows.But one year on, experts caution that residents and policymakers need to think beyond air conditioning as the predominant solution to the risks as climate change fuels heat waves that scientists say are becoming hotter and more frequent.
Two thirds of those who died during the extreme heat last summer were 70 or older, more than half lived alone and many were living with chronic diseases. “In the peak of the heat, a huge chunk of the cooling demand is coming from solar energy being received on the exterior of the building. Let's reflect that away.”
“That could be income, it could be the nature of their housing and the neighbourhood they live in that have inadequate tree canopy. All of those factors come together and we have to work on many of them simultaneously.” Trees and vegetation help reduce flood risk, he said, and neighbourhood parks serve as social hubs that can ease social isolation and foster a sense of community.
Globally, the International Energy Agency projected in 2018 that energy demand from air conditioning would triple by 2050. “We should be encouraging our policymakers to realize there's a big world out there of alternatives. We might not have the suppliers here yet in B.C., but it's a great opportunity for business,” Rysanek said.
Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth has said the government would consider the report and “take necessary steps to prevent heat-related deaths in the future.”
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