Heat waves are coming for the city
Andy Riga looks at the inevitability of longer, fiercer heat waves coming for Montreal, and what’s being done about them. He notes that even if we reduced carbon emissions big time now, the cumulative damage from existing carbon is still going to have this effect.
Ads shown on the article included car ads, including one with a video promoting a massive pickup truck, and a lot of ads promoting travel to Australia and Barbados. We are not reducing carbon emissions.
A similar theme is taken up by this CBC video and this recent spate of stories about heat islands in the city spins off a recent city report with a map showing the relative heat index throughout town.
Interesting that Jean-Talon market is a little red box in the midst of a more moderate area. Shows what those concrete structures are capable of.
Kevin 20:30 on 2022-07-16 Permalink
I am planning renovations and insulation is a key criteria.
Outside the home, I am seeing a lot of my neighbours install awnings or sunshades.
MarcG 08:34 on 2022-07-17 Permalink
I was told by the Verdun permit dept that awnings are not allowed here. I wonder what alternatives there are? We already have blackout blinds inside.
Tim S. 09:40 on 2022-07-17 Permalink
MarcG – have you tried writing to your councillor? I don’t know much about Verdun local politics, but I find it hard to imagine that a Project administration wouldn’t be interested in measures to mitigate heat waves.
dhomas 10:18 on 2022-07-17 Permalink
Looks like awnings are allowed in Verdun, but require a permit to install:
https://montreal.ca/demarches/installer-ou-remplacer-un-auvent-ou-une-marquise?arrondissement=VRD
MarcG 11:06 on 2022-07-17 Permalink
I went into the permit office with photos of the existing awnings and the guy said they’re not allowed anymore. I see that link is in disagreement – I’ll write him and see what he says.
MarcG 11:09 on 2022-07-17 Permalink
p.s. Thanks!
Chris 12:12 on 2022-07-17 Permalink
MarcG, another thing you could have done is ask the permit dept guy to cite the rule that forbids them.
i.e. call his bluff.
Kate 12:41 on 2022-07-17 Permalink
There are still a few awnings over second-floor balconies on some streets in Villeray. I once watched a big clump of ice and snow detach from an awning, slide down and fall square onto the sidewalk.
I don’t know whether this kind of risk is why they are disallowed in some places.
dhomas 12:49 on 2022-07-17 Permalink
My mother-in-law installed an awning over the balcony of her second floor apartment about 12 years ago. 2 years ago, a huge chunk of snow slid off and fell onto her tempo, collapsing it and damaging her car within. I also learned at the time that having a tempo can increase your insurance premiums, specifically for this reason. There’s more risk of damage to property with a tempo.
MarcG 16:30 on 2022-07-18 Permalink
He sent me the document with the article that explicitly states that “Auvent (rétractable ou non) et banne” aren’t allowed on residential buildings in the borough and suggested that there was an error on the website.