Landlord groups and the quest to end Americans’ (un)air-conditioned nightmare

2024-08-06T11:36:00-04:00

Most often, homes with little or no air conditioning are occupied by low-income residents – often renters — and people of color, a 2022 Boston University analysis of 115 U.S. metro areas found. That leaves them vulnerable as climate change makes heatwaves more frequent, more intense and longer lasting. Heat stress now kills more people globally each year than any other weather-related cause, according to the World Health Organization — and many of these deaths occur indoors.

New York, Los Angeles, and Austin are each currently mulling aggressive cooling laws that would levy huge fines against landlords who do not provide their tenants with efficient cooling systems, joining other states and cities in a burgeoning movement. As was reported last week, 2023 saw a 20% rise in heat-related emergency room visits in America. This year is already on track to be the hottest on record, making the possibility for successful opposition bids increasingly untenable.

New York City could soon mandate air conditioning in all residential buildings

2024-07-18T18:40:00-04:00

City Councilmember Lincoln Restler of Brooklyn, who confirmed the news with Gothamist on Wednesday, said he plans to introduce his bill during Thursday’s stated meeting. The bill is intended to mimic current local law requiring landlords to provide tenants with heat during the winter months by requiring them to ensure tenants can cool their homes to at least 78 degrees when it is 82 degrees or warmer during the summer, Restler said.

Councilmember Restler, who argues that the new legislation is tantamount to requiring heating in the winter, also told the New York Times it will "save lives as we reckon with the challenges of the climate crisis." Landlords would have a maximum of four years to comply with the mandate.

The Thursday vote comes as meteorologists are saying 2024 is likely on pace to be the hottest year on record.

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Landlord groups and the quest to end Americans’ (un)air-conditioned nightmare

New York City could soon mandate air conditioning in all residential buildings