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Examining the Relationship Between Historic Redlining, Urban Heat Island Intensity, and Energy Burden Across Different Socioeconomic Regions in New York City

Organization(s):United States of America GLOBE v-School
Country:United States of America
Student(s):Arya Gurumukhi, Sheila Micelli, Oralolia Koko
Grade Level:Secondary School (grades 9-12, ages 14-18)
Educator(s):Tanzia Ahmed, Olawale Oluwafemi, Dr. Kevin Czajkowski
Contributors:
Report Type(s):International Virtual Science Symposium Report, Mission Earth Report
Protocols:Surface Temperature
Presentation Video: View Video
Presentation Poster: View Document
Language(s):English
Date Submitted:07/21/2025
This project examines the intersection of historic redlining, Urban Heat Island (UHI) intensity, and energy burden across socioeconomic regions in New York City. Using ArcGIS and Google Earth Engine, the team mapped land surface temperature (LST), median household income (MHI), and energy cost burden at the census tract level, integrating redlining data to reveal how climate and economic inequities align. Results show high LST and energy burden overlap in historically redlined, low-income neighborhoods, indicating that these communities face compounded challenges of heat exposure and high energy costs, driven by increased cooling needs. Statistical analysis found a strong negative correlation (-0.75) between MHI and energy burden, confirming that lower-income communities experience higher relative energy costs. This analysis highlights how systemic underinvestment, climate vulnerability, and economic disparities intersect in NYC, emphasizing the need for targeted green infrastructure investment and integration of redlining history into urban resilience planning to protect vulnerable populations from climate-related health and financial risks.