Housing Climate Risk

We are proud to collaborate with the Housing Association community to improve understanding of climate risks to properties and neighborhoods. Livv Housing Group commissioned Map Impact to enhance their net zero strategy with new insights about rising temperatures and the increased frequency of heat wave events.

Challenge

The increasing impact of climate change is leading to more prolonged heat wave events. Many buildings and neighbourhoods are not equipped to handle high temperatures, posing a greater risk to human health. With evidence from the Climate Change Committee Climate Change Risk Assessment (CCRA) clearly showing the value for money in early adaptation, Livv Housing Group recognised this risk and required evidence to support mitigation.

Solution

By utilising satellite imagery to understand land surface temperature, patterns and trends in hot weather conditions could be objectively understood across the Livv property portfolio in the Knowsley and Liverpool City Region. The results indicated the locations most impacted by the Urban Heat Island effect (a phenomenon where built up areas are significantly warmer than their surroundings), by assigning a hazard category to every property (Low, Medium or High).

Impact

We were able to significantly enhance Livv Housing Group’s climate modelling (which had considered other climate risk factors, but not heat) and inform their net-zero strategy. Historically, Livv’s asset strategy has focused on the inside of properties. Map Impact’s data enables a comprehensive, location-based approach to supporting initiatives like upgrading and investing in green spaces.

“Climate change is here and we need to act now. The insights relating to heat risk deliverd by Map Impact provide a critical component of a climate modelled future ensuring the right strategic asset management decisions will be made to support Livv Housing Group’s mission to provide net zero homes that work for all.” – Tony Cahill, Executive Director of Property, Livv Housing Group