In thermal traps they turn into summer most houses in Greece with internal temperatures reaching even 38 degrees Celsius.
High temperatures in the Greek urban environment aggravate living conditions within homes
This is because most of the building stock in the country is old, constructed before the introduction of modern thermal protection requirements, at a time when thermal protection of buildings was not a basic design parameter.
Today, however, due to climate change, the rise in temperature, the frequent occurrence and the longer duration of the heats, combined with the characteristics of the Greek urban environment, particularly aggravates living conditions within the home.
If now, we add the fact that in Greece the percentage of households that spend more than 40% of its income to cover housing costs (including public utility accounts) is almost four times the European average, Greeks are also under pressure financially and also by the effects of climate change within their homes, experiencing a new treaty that directly concerns their health and well-being: summer energy poverty.
As quoted in the report «Housing in a climate crisis? Summer energy poverty in Greece» the environmental organization Greenpeace, which is based on field research by the Hellenic Institute of Passive Building (EPAK) that first recorded the real living conditions in 29 residences from six different areas (Athens, Thessaloniki, Larissa / Kalabaka, Heraklion/Chania, Kozani and Patras), «In these circumstances, the difficulty of households in Greece facing increased temperatures within their home is becoming increasingly felt social issue».
Risks increase
As it turns out, exposure to high temperatures affects the quality of sleep, the everyday life of residents, work and concentration, while at the same time increasing the risks to physical health, especially for elderly people, children and people with underlying diseases, as well as mental health.
Based on the research data, in the majority of houses, internal temperatures exceed for much of the summer the maximum heat comfort limit of 25°C, with average values often ranging between 28°C and 31°C and maximum reaching or exceeding 34-38°C.
The deviations from thermal comfort limits are greater in large urban areas such as Athens and Patras, while milder variations were recorded in areas with lower thermal loads, such as Kozani.
Partial improvement
Mild-scale energy interventions show only partial improvement, while they often record equally high maximum temperatures with the isolated housings.
On the contrary, dwellings with significant energy upgrades show more stable thermal behaviour and reduced fluctuations, without however ensuring absolutely comfort conditions in heat periods. Passive dwellings are the most effective category, with temperatures within or very close to the comfort limits and therefore reduced cooling needs, although their performance varies depending on how they are used.
However, even in homes with very high temperatures, air conditioning is often limited to one to two hours a day. This shows, as stated in the report, that energy poverty manifests itself not only as a poor quality of residence but also as a limited possibility of using energy services.
Problems
But beyond the temperature, field research also recorded significant problems in the quality of the indoor air, with some dwellings showing high CO2 concentrations (over 1,000 ppm). In Patras, for example, measurements showed 3,000 ppm (when the limit is 1,000 ppm). Only passive buildings (i.e. energy efficient structures) with mechanical ventilation kept fresh air.
«Χρειαζόμαστε μία νέα πολιτική για τα κτίρια της χώρας στην εποχή της στεγαστικής και κλιματικής κρίσης. Μία ολοκληρωμένη προσέγγιση που να διασφαλίζει πρόσβαση σε ασφαλή και ποιοτική κατοικία. Οχι για μερικές εκατοντάδες εύπορους στο Ελληνικό, αλλά για όλους τους κατοίκους της χώρας», επισημαίνει μιλώντας στα «ΝΕΑ» η υπεύθυνη προγραμμάτων του Ελληνικού Γραφείου της περιβαλλοντικής οργάνωσης Greenpeace Μυρτώ Πισπίνη.
Οπως λέει, «είναι ζήτημα δημόσιας υγείας, κοινωνικής προστασίας και προσαρμογής της χώρας στην κλιματική κρίση. Οσο καθυστερούμε να λάβουμε μέτρα, εκατομμύρια πολίτες θα εξακολουθούν να ζουν σε σπίτια που το καλοκαίρι μετατρέπονται σε θερμικές παγίδες».
