Modeling Indoor Heat Exposure and Mitigation Strategies in U.S. Schools 

Children spend much of their day in school, but many U.S. schools still lack adequate cooling and modern infrastructure to protect students from extreme heat. Relying on outdoor temperature alone misses what students actually experience indoors. This project builds a nationwide, school-specific simulation by linking nearly 200,000 schools from the national database with building energy simulation model to estimate indoor temperatures and cooling energy use. We then simulate implementation of practical interventions—such as cool roofs, improved air conditioning, and building envelope upgrades—to see how much they can reduce heat exposure and how they affect energy demand. The goal of this project is to generate clear, actionable evidence that can help stakeholders and school districts invest in solutions that keep students safe from heat while managing energy use. Led by Dr. Jinho Lee, funded by a Post-Doctoral Research Ignition Award from Boston University School of Public Health.