Editorial Type:
Article
Article Type:
Research Article

Socioeconomic and Outdoor Meteorological Determinants of Indoor Temperature and Humidity in New York City Dwellings

J. D. Tamerius Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, New York

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M. S. Perzanowski Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, New York

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L. M. Acosta Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, New York

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J. S. Jacobson Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, New York

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I. F. Goldstein Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, New York

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J. W. Quinn Institute for Social and Economic Research and Policy, Columbia University, New York, New York

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A. G. Rundle Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, New York

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J. Shaman Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, New York

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Print Publication:
01 Apr 2013
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1175/WCAS-D-12-00030.1
Page(s):
168–179
Restricted access

Abstract

Numerous mechanisms link outdoor weather and climate conditions to human health. It is likely that many health conditions are more directly affected by indoor rather than outdoor conditions. Yet, the relationship between indoor temperature and humidity conditions to outdoor variability, and the heterogeneity of the relationship among different indoor environments are largely unknown. The authors use 5–14-day measures of indoor temperature and relative humidity from 327 dwellings in New York City New York, for the years 2008–11 to investigate the relationship between indoor climate, outdoor meteorological conditions, socioeconomic conditions, and building descriptors. Study households were primarily middle income and located across the boroughs of Brooklyn, Queens, Bronx, and Manhattan. Indoor temperatures are positively associated with outdoor temperature during the warm season and study dwellings in higher socioeconomic status neighborhoods are significantly cooler. During the cool season, outdoor temperatures have little effect on indoor temperatures; however, indoor temperatures can range more than 10°C between dwellings despite similar outdoor temperatures. Apartment buildings tend to be significantly warmer than houses and dwellings on higher floors are also significantly warmer than dwellings on lower floors. Outdoor specific humidity is positively associated with indoor specific and relative humidity, but there is no consistent relationship between outdoor and indoor relative humidity. In New York City, the relationship between indoor and outdoor temperature and humidity conditions varies significantly between dwellings. These results can be used to inform studies of health outcomes for which temperature or humidity is an established factor affecting human health. The results highlight the need for more research on the determinants of indoor climate.

Supplemental information related to this paper is available at the Journals Online website: http://dx.doi.org/10.1175/WCAS-D-12-00030.s1.

Corresponding author address: J. D. Tamerius, 722 West 168th St., Allan Rosenfield Building, 11th Floor, New York, NY 10032-0403. E-mail: jt2684@columbia.edu

Abstract

Numerous mechanisms link outdoor weather and climate conditions to human health. It is likely that many health conditions are more directly affected by indoor rather than outdoor conditions. Yet, the relationship between indoor temperature and humidity conditions to outdoor variability, and the heterogeneity of the relationship among different indoor environments are largely unknown. The authors use 5–14-day measures of indoor temperature and relative humidity from 327 dwellings in New York City New York, for the years 2008–11 to investigate the relationship between indoor climate, outdoor meteorological conditions, socioeconomic conditions, and building descriptors. Study households were primarily middle income and located across the boroughs of Brooklyn, Queens, Bronx, and Manhattan. Indoor temperatures are positively associated with outdoor temperature during the warm season and study dwellings in higher socioeconomic status neighborhoods are significantly cooler. During the cool season, outdoor temperatures have little effect on indoor temperatures; however, indoor temperatures can range more than 10°C between dwellings despite similar outdoor temperatures. Apartment buildings tend to be significantly warmer than houses and dwellings on higher floors are also significantly warmer than dwellings on lower floors. Outdoor specific humidity is positively associated with indoor specific and relative humidity, but there is no consistent relationship between outdoor and indoor relative humidity. In New York City, the relationship between indoor and outdoor temperature and humidity conditions varies significantly between dwellings. These results can be used to inform studies of health outcomes for which temperature or humidity is an established factor affecting human health. The results highlight the need for more research on the determinants of indoor climate.

Supplemental information related to this paper is available at the Journals Online website: http://dx.doi.org/10.1175/WCAS-D-12-00030.s1.

Corresponding author address: J. D. Tamerius, 722 West 168th St., Allan Rosenfield Building, 11th Floor, New York, NY 10032-0403. E-mail: jt2684@columbia.edu

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