The Roles of Housing and Household Characteristics in U.S. Residential Heat Risk

Abstract

This study uses data from the 2020 nationally-representative U.S. Residential Energy Consumption Survey (RECS) to analyze the under-explored relationship between housing type, household characteristics, and two novel heat health risk measures. We use a combination of descriptive analysis and logistic regression models. The results show that renters and residents of lower-cost housing types – multifamily and manufactured housing – are much more likely to keep their homes at unhealthy temperatures and require medical attention due to hot indoor temperatures. We also find stark disparities in heat risk for households with lower incomes, seniors, and Black, Native American, multiracial, and Hispanic households.