Activity Hours: Assessing Liveability during Heatwaves

As climate change amplifies the frequency and severity of heatwaves, it becomes increasingly important to understand their impact on building occupants’ well-being, health, and permissible activities. Existing research primarily focuses on the thermal comfort of an average individual, often overlooking the effects of extreme heat on liveability and the varied resilience of different population groups. To address these shortcomings, the project introduces the Activity Hours (Ah) metric, which measures the liveability of indoor environments during heatwaves by considering air temperature, humidity, occupant age, permissible activity levels, and exposure duration. Alongside this metric, it presents the Heatalyzer tool, which computes Ah for various geographies, building types, and heatwave durations.

In a case study of residential housing in London, the project demonstrates how Ah provides a more nuanced understanding of heatwave impacts compared to traditional thermal comfort metrics, offering insights into how different building types and demographic groups are affected. The findings are accessible through the Heatalyzer dashboard, a user-friendly website that allows London residents to assess their heat-related risks.