As the climate crisis continues to raise heat levels globally, experts say there should be a focus on incorporating cooling elements in the built environment.
The continuous high daily temperatures recently experienced in TT brought this home forcefully, as many suffered without air-conditioning in structures designed with no natural ventilation.
While the Met Service has discontinued its projected two-week heat spell warning which saw temperatures rising as high as 44 degrees Celsius it warned of more high temperatures after the passage of the current tropical wave.
Newsday asked the Town and Country Planning Division (TCPD) whether climate change was considered when granting approval for building plans. The TCPD said it was common knowledge that areas under tree cover and green spaces were generally cooler than highly urbanised places since they offer shade and general respite from the harmful rays of the sun.
“The adverse effects of prolonged heatwaves can be mitigated by conserving vegetative cover even in towns and cities. To reduce the adverse effects of excessive heat experienced and to avoid creating what is commonly referred to as a concrete jungle, current land use policies applied by the TCPD make provision for maintaining vast areas of land in this country under agricultural and forest cover.
“In terms of the built environment, the TCPD applies site development standards such as setback distances, building coverage, site coverage and gives consideration to landscaping and recreational/open spaces when examining development proposals to ensure amenity value, inclusive of adequate ventilation and shade.”
It said landscaping is recommended to facilitate the flow of air, provide shade, and reduce temperatures felt by pedestrians.
“It is prudent to incorporate intelligent use of construction techniques and materials as well as architectural design in building projects to increase ventilation and reduce the effects of the rays of the sun particularly in a tropical climate. It must be recognised that public spaces such as urban parks serve as the city’s green lungs, offering much needed shade and comfort to benefit our general health and wellbeing.”
Urban Development Corporation of TT (Udecott) Ltd architectural department head Marlon Charles said there were several measures taken by the corporation when planning buildings.
“We oriented them on the site to take advantage of the natural light from the north and south façades to reduce dependency on artificial lighting and improve energy efficiency. Where possible we design indoor/outdoor spaces that are shaded and naturally ventilated such as outdoor terraces and corridors. This reduces the need for air-conditioning of the entire building. In terms of environmentally-control internal spaces, we use energy efficient heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems, light emitting diode (LED) lighting, low flush toilets and automated switches.”
Urban planner Ryan Darmanie said there are several factors in how TT’s cities are built w
