‘Design as Preventative Care’ Can Mitigate Heat Island Effects – Next City

‘Design as Preventative Care’ Can Mitigate Heat Island Effects – Next City
While extreme heat events on their own are deadly, in cities like New York City, urban environmental factors exacerbate conditions that cause poor health. Historically disenfranchised neighborhoods are often disproportionately sited with infrastructure, heavy industry, and extensive hardscape. These burdensome elements can cause heightened exposure to air pollution and extreme heat, increasing rates of asthma and worsening chronic illnesses like heart and respiratory disease. The COVID-19 pandemic has further underscored the inequities in health outcomes that disproportionately affect communities of color.