Policy Solution
Thermal comfort policies
Mandate
Summary
Maximum allowable indoor temperatures for buildings can increase awareness and encourage property managers to adjust cooling standards to avoid excessive cooling, reduce energy loads, and as a result reduce the associated waste heat.
Implementation
Establish maximum allowable indoor temperatures for buildings.
Considerations for Use
This policy could build on or add to existing minimum indoor temperature, energy, or other efficiency standards for interior conditions.
Overview
Climate:
Cold, Hot/Dry, Hot/Humid, TemperatePolicy Levers:
MandateMandates are government regulations that require stakeholders to meet standards through building codes, ordinances, zoning policies, or other regulatory tools.Trigger Points:
Introducing new or updated zoning/codesIncludes codes, zoning requirements or by-laws pertaining to urban planning and building construction activity.No-regrets actions (low cost/low effort but substantial benefit)Interventions that are relatively low-cost and low effort (in terms of requisite dependencies) but have substantial environmental and/or social benefits.Intervention Types:
Planning/PolicySectors:
Buildings
Case Studies
Impact
Target Beneficiaries:
Property owners, ResidentsPhase of Impact:
Risk reduction and mitigationMetrics:
Energy savings
Implementation
Intervention Scale:
CityAuthority and Governance:
City governmentImplementation Timeline:
Short-term (1-2 Years)Implementation Stakeholders:
City governmentFunding Sources:
Private investmentCapacity to Act:
High, MediumBenefits
Cost-Benefit:
LowPublic Good:
LowGHG Reduction:
N/ACo-benefits (Climate/Environmental):
N/ACo-benefits (Social/Economic):
Save on utilities