ARIZONA NEWS

Findings from an ASU study show how extreme heat impacts daily lives

Oct 9, 2024, 4:45 AM | Updated: 6:16 am

An ASU study found how extreme heat affects daily lives and what policy changes can be implemented....

An ASU study found that extreme heat impacts people's daily lives. (Getty Images Photo)

(Getty Images Photo)

PHOENIX — A new study from Arizona State University found that extreme heat impacts people’s daily lives and influences the amount of time spent at home and their transportation choices.

It highlights the importance of creating policy changes as cities, just like Phoenix are continuously breaking heat records month after month.

Researchers from ASU, University of Washington and University of Texas at Austin worked together to complete the study.

Key findings include extreme heat causes people to spend a lot less time outdoors and more time at home, according to the study. Data from the study found that scorching temperatures causes people to cut back on social outings and shopping. People also seem to avoid traveling during the hottest times of the day and tend to make more trips early in the morning or in the late evening.

The study findings showed an increase in people driving their cars and a nearly 50% drop in those who use public transportation. This poses a challenge for cities that try to encourage residents to use sustainable transportation, biking and using public transit.

Who is most vulnerable to the heat?

People from low-income backgrounds and those without vehicle access who rely on walking or public transportation are some of the most vulnerable groups when facing the heat. Oftentimes, this same group of people have jobs with the least flexibility and may be unable to work from home making traveling during extreme temperatures a necessity.

The report found that higher income people made less trips on extremely hot days in contrast to lower-income people who did not have a decrease in their daily trips, which likely meant that they are more vulnerable to the effects of extreme heat.

“We see that extreme heat exacerbates inequities in mobility and activity-travel participation,” ASU professor research lead Ram M. Pendyala said. “Those who are already at a disadvantage, such as low-income individuals or those dependent on public transportation, face even greater risks during heat waves. This is a clear call for targeted policy interventions to protect the most vulnerable population groups.”

Why policy changes are vital

Researchers proposed recommendations in policy changes to reduce the impact of extreme heat. These include, “creating shaded public spaces, offering vouchers for on-demand door-to-door transportation for vulnerable populations and declaring “heat days” when people are encouraged to stay indoors, excused from traveling to the workplace, and able to access cooling centers if their homes are not adequately temperature controlled.”

The study called for the implementation of ‘extreme heat’ days that are similar to ‘snow’ days when workplaces, businesses and schools are often closed to protect people. Other suggestions were improving urban designs including, planting more trees and using heat-reflective materials on pavements.

“Addressing the challenges associated with extreme heat is not just a matter of urban design, but of equity and public health and well-being,” lead ASU co-author Irfan Batur said. “We need to take decisive action to ensure that our cities are equipped to protect all residents from the dangers of extreme heat.”

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Findings from an ASU study show how extreme heat impacts daily lives