Heat Sensors in Homes

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During the 2025 Extreme Heat Season, the City of Miami worked with 77 residents to voluntarily install heat sensors inside and outside their homes from July – September 2025 to see how extreme heat conditions affected their daily lives. These residents lived in seven heat-vulnerable communities across the City’s five districts including Allapattah, Flagami, Liberty City, Little Bahamas, Little Haiti, Little Havana, and Overtown.

By monitoring indoor and outdoor temperatures in heat-vulnerable neighborhoods and listening to residents’ lived experiences, the City of Miami has gained valuable insight into the conditions many households face during periods of extreme heat. The findings presented in this report will help guide future policies, investments, and partnerships that reduce heat risk, improve housing resilience, lower energy burdens, and better protect public health. Check out Key Findings below and read the full "Heat Sensors in Homes: An Investigation of Extreme Heat in 7 Heat Vulnerable Miami Communities" report for more details.

Below are the key findings identified through the temperature, humidity, dewpoint data, and survey data collected from this project.

  1. Heat varies by neighborhood: Neighborhoods differed by up to 7–8°F.
  2. Temperature forecasts alone do not reflect neighborhood heat: Localized heat exposure often exceeded airport-based conditions.
  3. 99% exceeded healthy indoor moisture standards: Humidity and dewpoint, not just temperature, were the most widespread indoor concerns.
  4. Disproportionate impacts: Lower-income and Black households experienced greater indoor heat exposure.
  5. AC alone is not enough: Most homes had AC, but inefficient building envelopes and high utility costs limited comfort.
  6. Single-family homes were hotter: Single-family homes spent nearly 2 more hours per day above indoor temperature thresholds.
  7. Seniors, and 30s, most vulnerable: Older adults (60+) and 30-39 year olds needed heat-related medical assistance the most.

Through this project we discovered indoor moisture and humidity is a widespread problem in Miami homes which indicates issues with building envelope and insulation. This should be considered a priority focus for a cooling program as improvements to building envelope will maximize other enhancements, ensure they are sustainable, and reduce energy costs. Additional program elements that could be considered include passive cooling measures, air conditioning methods and/or requirements, tree canopy expansion, and other measures to reduce urban heat islands within the City. Factors to consider in implementing a program relates to target populations such as seniors or low-income households and renters and/or homeowners.

Topics to consider in implementing a program to address extreme heat in the City of Miami include:

  • Improve Building Envelopes and Insulation: Expand insulation, air sealing, windows, and roof improvements.
  • Encourage Passive Cooling Techniques: Reduce heat entering homes through cool roofs, window treatments, and shading.
  • Expand Cooling Assistance Support: AC repair/replacement, dehumidifiers, and emergency cooling assistance.
  • Reduce Urban Heat: Increase tree canopy, shade, cool roofs, and permeable surfaces.
  • Target Investments: Prioritize seniors, lower-income households, renters, and heat-vulnerable neighborhoods.

Read the Report

Home Sensors in Homes Executive Summary

Heat Sensors in Homes Full Report
Spanish and Haitian Creole translations are in development.

Project Team and Partners

City of Miami: Office of Resilience and Sustainability, Data Team

External Partners: C40 Cities, The Miami Foundation, Catalyst Miami, Center for Independent Living, Grove Rights and Community Equity Inc. (GRACE), Healthy Little Havana, Liberty City Revitalization Trust, and Little Haiti Revitalization Trust.

Extreme Heat Resources

Text "ALERTMIAMI" to 888777 to receive emergency updates including declared extreme heat advisories and warnings.

Extreme Heat Safety Tips
Miami Forever Climate Ready: Extreme Heat Plan
Appendix D: Current Cooling Resources Guide for Property Owners and Renters

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