Bulletin No. 1, 2016

30 o C What a University Can Do about Climate Change 13 More heat is retained in densely built areas with poor ventilation Narrow gaps between buildings hinder air permeability Increase in heat-related mortality and health issues 7 8 10 7 9 8 10 Energy consumption and CO 2 emission increase as temperature rises Excessive floor to floor height increases thermal load Urban Area with Poor Ventilation and High UHI Effect Prevailing wind blocked by tall buildings at waterfront sites 9 The ‘Wake Up Call’ and the Importance of Urban Ventilation Ventilation within the urban area is crucial for mitigating UHI effects, enhancing thermal comfor t and reducing the transmis sion of a ir bo r ne infe c t i ous d is ea s e. Acco rd ing to Professor Ng, the wake-up call for both the government and the public to realize the impacts of urban planning on the cit y’s ventilation happened during SARS in 2003. That year, the Planning Department of the government initiated a research on air ventilation assessment (AVA) in Hong Kong with the CUHK team as the main consultant.