Integrating public health considerations into the energy and environmental assessment of buildings to reduce the risk of urban heat exposure: a case study from Chile

The document highlights the intersection of climate change, urban heat islands, and public health in Chile, specifically within the municipality of Quilpué. It argues that while energy efficiency regulations have progressed since 2006, there is a critical need to incorporate health-focused criteria into building codes and housing policies to address energy poverty and the health impacts of extreme temperatures.

• In the municipality of Quilpué, there is a documented correlation between elevated temperatures and an increase in hospital visits, with certain areas showing higher heat exposure and associated health risks.
• Despite regulatory progress in Chile since 2006, including the Energy Efficiency Law and 2021 standard updates, building codes still lack the explicit integration of health criteria and show discrepancies with actual living conditions and user perceptions.
• Energy poverty is identified as a critical factor that increases vulnerability to heat waves and exacerbates inequalities in urban heat exposure, particularly in public housing.
• Residents in Quilpué perceive a decline in thermal conditions when compared to more traditional construction methods.

APA

Palme, M. (n.d.). Integrating public health considerations into the energy and environmental assessment of buildings to reduce the risk of urban heat exposure: a case study from Chile. Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research. http://iai.int/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/CEH_Brief_SG-10_en.pdf

Chicago

Palme, Massimo. Integrating public health considerations into the energy and environmental assessment of buildings to reduce the risk of urban heat exposure: a case study from Chile. Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research, n.d. http://iai.int/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/CEH_Brief_SG-10_en.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Palme |first1=Massimo |title=Integrating public health considerations into the energy and environmental assessment of buildings to reduce the risk of urban heat exposure: a case study from Chile |publisher=Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research |url=http://iai.int/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/CEH_Brief_SG-10_en.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{palmendintegrating, author = {Palme, Massimo}, title = {{Integrating public health considerations into the energy and environmental assessment of buildings to reduce the risk of urban heat exposure: a case study from Chile}}, institution = {Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research}, url = {http://iai.int/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/CEH_Brief_SG-10_en.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }