Perspectives on Heat Index and Climate Change on Thermal Comfort and Human Health

Authors

  • Muhammed Gambo Abdullahi  Department of Architecture, Faculty of Built Environment, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, 81310 UTM Skudai, Johor Bahru, Malaysia
  • Mohd Zin Bin Kandar  Department of Architecture, Faculty of Built Environment, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, 81310 UTM Skudai, Johor Bahru, Malaysia
  • Lim Yaik Wah  Department of Architecture, Faculty of Built Environment, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, 81310 UTM Skudai, Johor Bahru, Malaysia
  • Allan Joseph Usman  Department of Architectural Technology, School of Environmental Studies, Federal Polytechnic Nasarawa, P. M. B 001, Nasarawa, Nasarawa State, Nigeria

Keywords:

Heat Index, Thermal Comfort, Human health, Shady Conditions, Environment.

Abstract

The overdependence on fossil fuels has resulted in significant socio-economic and environmental challenges such as global warming and climate change. The associated greenhouse gas (GHG) and pollutant emissions have raised global temperatures by 2°C above pre-industrial levels worsening climate change. Similarly, lack of adaptive mitigative strategies could possibly result in disastrous effects on human health, safety, and the environment. However, this will require studies on the effects of rising temperatures, heat indexes and its effects on human health, safety and thermal comfort against the backdrop of rising global temperatures. Therefore, this paper seeks to examine and highlight the role of heat index on the thermal comfort health and safety of building occupants. It also presents perspectives on the potential health related disorders such as heat strokes, cramps, rashes arising from rising global temperatures, global warming and climate change. The findings showed setting up Low Carbon Materials (LCM), Renewable Energy Technologies (RET) and Sustainable Design Practises (SDP) could potential aid climate mitigation. In addition, the outlined strategies will improve, preserve and protect human health, safety and the thermal comfort of building occupants against the adverse effects of rising global temperatures and climate change.

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International Journal of Scientific Research in Science, Engineering and Technology

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Published

2016-07-30

Issue

Volume 2, Issue 4, July-August-2016

Section

Research Articles

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How to Cite

[1]
Muhammed Gambo Abdullahi, Mohd Zin Bin Kandar, Lim Yaik Wah, Allan Joseph Usman, " Perspectives on Heat Index and Climate Change on Thermal Comfort and Human Health, International Journal of Scientific Research in Science, Engineering and Technology(IJSRSET), Print ISSN : 2395-1990, Online ISSN : 2394-4099, Volume 2, Issue 4, pp.07-14, July-August-2016.