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

This policy brief describes a transdisciplinary project in Chile that examines the intersection of urban heat, building energy efficiency, and public health. Using a case study from the municipality of Quilpué, the project identifies correlations between high temperatures and hospital visits, highlighting the need to integrate health criteria into building codes and housing policies to mitigate climate vulnerability and energy poverty.

• In the municipality of Quilpué, there are specific urban areas with higher exposure to heat and associated health risks, with a documented correlation between high temperatures and an increase in hospital visits.
• While Chile has updated its energy efficiency regulations and standards since 2006, including the Energy Efficiency Law and updates effective in 2021, these regulations still lack the explicit integration of health criteria.
• Indoor temperatures in public housing can increase heat exposure, and energy poverty acts as a critical determinant that exacerbates vulnerability to heat waves.
• Residents in the study area perceive a decline in thermal conditions when compared to more traditional construction types.

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} }