HOPE Students Final: Case: Residents Association Initiative to Protect Their Building from Heatwaves

Phase 2

The Lakeside Grove Residents Association (LGRA) is a community-driven organization located in a suburban area prone to increasingly frequent heatwaves during the summer months. With rising temperatures becoming a growing concern, the LGRA has embarked on an initiative to protect their apartments and its residents from the adverse effects of heat waves. They started with interventions to immediately reduce the effects of heatwaves, especially during heatwaves. The LGRA was very happy with your input and recently started implementing your recommendations.

Now they want to take their initiative one step further. And focus on other interventions that are designed to prevent the occurrence of unwanted effects of heatwaves. In their own words: ‘building-related measures on the longer term’.

Since they know you and appreciate your expertise, they have asked you to advise them on this topic. What building-related measures can be taken to prevent unwanted effects of heat waves? They would like an overview of possible interventions, including costs and preconditions.

To remember, Lakeside Grove houses a diverse community of residents including families, elderly individuals, and young professionals. About half of the apartments have their own airco-device. Others use a variety of interventions, such as electric fans, or individual sunblinds. These apartments have relatively large windows, directed towards the south. Every apartment has an isolated balcony, where residents like to sit in spring and autumn. The roof is flat and covered with tar. In the building, residents have little social contacts with each other. The region experiences significant temperature spikes during the summer months, leading to discomfort, health risks, and increased energy consumption due to excessive use of air conditioning.

So, the residents would like an action plan in order to:

Ultimately decrease the effect of heatwaves on their health
Decrease the costs of electricity because, in the long run:
Reduce their carbon footprint.