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Indoor Temperatures in Low Cost Housing in Johannesburg, South Africa

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  • Nisha Naicker

    (Environment and Health Research Unit, South African Medical Research Council, Johannesburg 2028, South Africa
    Environmental Health Department, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg 2028, South Africa
    The Epidemiology and Surveillance Section, National Institute for Occupational Health, National Health Laboratory Services, Braamfontein 2001, South Africa
    Department of Environmental Health, School of Behavioural Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, Nelson Mandela University, Port Elizabeth 6019, South Africa)

  • June Teare

    (Environment and Health Research Unit, South African Medical Research Council, Johannesburg 2028, South Africa
    Department of Environmental Health, School of Behavioural Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, Nelson Mandela University, Port Elizabeth 6019, South Africa)

  • Yusentha Balakrishna

    (Biostatistics Unit, South African Medical Research Council, Durban 4091, South Africa)

  • Caradee Yael Wright

    (Environment and Health Research Unit, South African Medical Research Council, Johannesburg 2028, South Africa
    Department of Geography, Geoinformatics and Meteorology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0028, South Africa)

  • Angela Mathee

    (Environment and Health Research Unit, South African Medical Research Council, Johannesburg 2028, South Africa
    Environmental Health Department, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg 2028, South Africa
    Wits School of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg 2193, South Africa)

Abstract

Ambient and indoor temperature affects thermal comfort and human health. In a changing climate with a predicted change in temperature extremes, understanding indoor temperatures, both hot and cold, of different housing types is important. This study aimed to assess the hourly, daily and monthly variation in indoor temperatures in different housing types, namely formal houses, informal houses, flats, government-built low-cost houses and old, apartheid era low-cost housing, in five impoverished urban communities in Johannesburg, South Africa. During the cross-sectional survey of the Health, Environment and Development study data loggers were installed in 100 homes (20 per suburb) from February to May 2014. Indoor temperature and relative humidity were recorded on an hourly basis. Ambient outdoor temperatures were obtained from the nearest weather station. Indoor and outdoor temperature and relative humidity levels were compared; and an inter-comparison between the different housing types were also made. Apparent temperature was calculated to assess indoor thermal comfort. Data from 59 retrieved loggers showed a significant difference in monthly mean indoor temperature between the five different housing types ( p < 0.0001). Low cost government-built houses and informal settlement houses had the greatest variation in temperature and experienced temperatures between 4 and 5 °C warmer than outdoor temperatures. Housing types occupied by poor communities experienced indoor temperature fluctuations often greater than that observed for ambient temperatures. Families living in government-built low-cost and informally-constructed homes are the most at risk for indoor temperature extremes. These types of housing should be prioritised for interventions aimed at assisting families to cope with extreme temperatures, gaining optimal thermal comfort and preventing temperature-related health effects.

Suggested Citation

  • Nisha Naicker & June Teare & Yusentha Balakrishna & Caradee Yael Wright & Angela Mathee, 2017. "Indoor Temperatures in Low Cost Housing in Johannesburg, South Africa," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(11), pages 1-18, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:14:y:2017:i:11:p:1410-:d:119427
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    4. Frumkin, H. & Hess, J. & Luber, G. & Malilay, J. & McGeehin, M., 2008. "Climate change: The public health response," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 98(3), pages 435-445.
    5. Rebecca M. Garland & Mamopeli Matooane & Francois A. Engelbrecht & Mary-Jane M. Bopape & Willem A. Landman & Mogesh Naidoo & Jacobus Van der Merwe & Caradee Y. Wright, 2015. "Regional Projections of Extreme Apparent Temperature Days in Africa and the Related Potential Risk to Human Health," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 12(10), pages 1-28, October.
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    Cited by:

    1. Caradee Y. Wright & D. Jean du Preez & Danielle A. Millar & Mary Norval, 2020. "The Epidemiology of Skin Cancer and Public Health Strategies for Its Prevention in Southern Africa," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(3), pages 1-14, February.
    2. Sikhumbuzo Archibald Buthelezi & Thandi Kapwata & Bianca Wernecke & Candice Webster & Angela Mathee & Caradee Yael Wright, 2019. "Household Fuel Use for Heating and Cooking and Respiratory Health in a Low-Income, South African Coastal Community," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(4), pages 1-12, February.
    3. Bongokuhle Mabuya & Mary Scholes, 2020. "The Three Little Houses: A Comparative Study of Indoor and Ambient Temperatures in Three Low-Cost Housing Types in Gauteng and Mpumalanga, South Africa," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(10), pages 1-22, May.
    4. Matthew F. Chersich & Caradee Y. Wright & Francois Venter & Helen Rees & Fiona Scorgie & Barend Erasmus, 2018. "Impacts of Climate Change on Health and Wellbeing in South Africa," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(9), pages 1-14, August.
    5. Thandi Kapwata & Angela Mathee & Wouter Jacobus Le Roux & Caradee Yael Wright, 2018. "Diarrhoeal Disease in Relation to Possible Household Risk Factors in South African Villages," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(8), pages 1-12, August.

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