May heat wave highlights further need for climate change adaptation in Oregon
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The Portland Clean Energy Fund, a tax-funded grant program to fight climate change and social inequities, created a heat response program now called Cooling Portland. The program installs portable AC units or heat pumps for Portlanders whose income is less than 60% of the median income household and who are either living alone, elderly or have medical conditions that are more vulnerable to heat.
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Stover said about 46% of the program’s installations occurred in homes east of 82nd Avenue, a section of the city that is highly vulnerable to heat, according to a new Multnomah county heat map. The map uses three key factors to assess heat vulnerability: sensitivity to heat and illness, exposure to extreme heat and capacity to adapt.
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Moreno said the heat pumps only offer a temporary solution. Many households are grateful to receive these units after going through hot summer without any relief, but he said the portable units can only cool a small section of a home. He’d like to see more options for renters and incentives so people can purchase heat pumps on their own.
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Moreno suggested creating incentives to install mini-split heat pumps, which work throughout the home and allow you to control the temperature in different spaces. Another suggestion is installing ductless heat pumps, which require no vents throughout the home to deliver air – something Verde has been doing since 2019.
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