One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today.
Yes, Heat Waves Do Feel Hotter In Low-Income Neighborhoods
(Frederic J. Brown/AFP/Getty Images)
It's not your imagination. Summer heat often feels hotter in low-income neighborhoods than it does in wealthier ones.
Researchers at UC Davis looked at the 20 largest metropolitan areas in the Southwest and found that the poorest neighborhoods were on average four degrees hotter than the wealthiest neighborhoods. Why the thermal inequity? Wealthier areas tend to have more green spaces, shade and energy-efficient buildings that keep them cooler.
In California, the biggest disparities were found in the Inland Empire and Palm Springs, where low-income neighborhoods were six to seven degrees hotter than other communities. The researchers also found disparities by race.
"We looked at every racial demographic, and by far, the Latinx community unfortunately faced the highest thermal inequity. It was not even close," says Jake Dialesandro, the lead author of the study.
As climate change accelerates, some researchers are urging policy-makers to take action to reduce energy costs and prevent heat-related sickness and death in lower-income communities.
Our news is free on LAist. To make sure you get our coverage: Sign up for our daily newsletters. To support our non-profit public service journalism: Donate Now.
One year ago, Congress voted to defund public media, eliminating a critical $1.7 million from our budget every year going forward. But they couldn’t silence us, and we’re not going anywhere. LAist is now 100% community funded and that means we’re taking our future into our own hands and turning to you to keep local reporting strong.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
