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B1 Washing people | B2 Washing clothes and bedding | B3 Removing waste water safely | B4 Improving nutrition – the ability to store, prepare and cook food | B5 Reducing the impacts of over-crowding | B6 Reducing the negative effects of animals, insects and vermin | B7 Reducing the health impacts of dust | B8 Controlling the temperature of the living environment | B9 Reducing hazards that cause minor injury (trauma)

B8 Controlling the temperature of the living environment

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Living in houses that are too cold or too hot can contribute to a range of physical illnesses and can cause emotional distress for residents. Exposure to cold temperatures increases the likelihood of developing chest infections and pneumonia, particularly for children and elderly people. If the house is cold and all members of the household sleep in one heated room, these infections can rapidly spread. Extended exposure to high temperatures can also result in illness, with increased risk of dehydration and heat stress for sick children and elderly people.

Survey data from over 1,000 houses shows that, on the day of survey when the outside shaded air (ambient) temperature was above 30ºC, the average improvement in the internal air temperature of the house was less than 2ºC. Survey data also shows that in some houses (31 per cent), the internal temperature on these days was hotter than the outside temperature. 

In cooler climates, survey data from 147 houses shows that, on the day of survey when the outside air temperature was less than 15ºC, the average improvement in the internal air temperature of the house was slightly greater than 3ºC.

This data indicates that these houses provide little benefit to residents in terms of protection from temperature extremes.

It can be expensive to use ‘active’ heating and cooling systems, such as heaters and air conditioners to make poorly performing houses more comfortable. ‘Active’ means a heating and cooling system that requires additional energy to make the house warmer or cooler, including gas, fire and electricity.

The alternative to an active heating or cooling system is a ‘passive’ system, which does not use additional energy. A verandah that shades a wall and reduces heat inside the house is an example of passive cooling and a concrete slab that is warmed by the sun during the day in winter to keep the house warm at night is an example of passive heating.  Houses that incorporate passive design features will require less days of active heating and cooling and less energy will be required to heat or cool the house on extreme temperature days. This means reduced costs for the resident.