close
close

first Drop

Com TW NOw News 2024

    • Zillow’s climate risk map shows air pollution in the East Tennessee city
    news

    Zillow’s climate risk map shows air pollution in the East Tennessee city

    Vaseline Posted on

    play

    ZIllow’s new climate risk maps show an East Tennessee city at extreme risk for air pollution.

    In September 2024, the online real estate site partnered with First Street, a company specialized in climate risk mapping, to make climate data accessible to potential homeowners.

    The First Street maps existed before the Zillow partnership. But now the data is intended to help potential homebuyers assess climate risk, insurance costs and long-term property affordability before making an offer.

    The maps help buyers understand five major risks: flood, fire, wind, heat and air.

    “Climate risks are now a critical factor in home buying decisions,” said Skylar Olsen, chief economist at Zillow, in a recent press release. “Healthy markets are markets where buyers and sellers have access to all relevant data for their decisions.”

    The climate maps for Bean Station, Tennessee warn of an extreme risk of air pollution to the community. The number of unhealthy air days in a bad year will increase by 2% over the next thirty years. Bean Station residents can also expect the number of days per year above 102 degrees to increase by 200% over the next 30 years, according to the data.

    Bean Station, located just north of Morristown, has the most extreme air pollution risk in Tennessee, according to climate data. Rising temperatures are a threat in the Volunteer State.

    How is the climate risk score determined?

    The climate risk maps predict how environmental conditions will change 30 years into the future and how those conditions will affect ozone formation and PM2.5 levels due to increased wildfires, First Street said. Regions in the United States are given a score from one to 10 to determine how “extreme” a climate risk could be.

    On this scale, Bean Station received a 10 for air quality, the most extreme, and a five out of 10 for the heat factor, labeled as moderate. Fire, flooding and wind are considered minor concerns for homes in the area, according to Zillow climate maps.

    First Street’s models, including what customers can see on Zillow, are developed by scientists and vetted through peer review, according to a Zillow press release.

    What causes air pollution?

    Air pollution is not caused by just one thing. Natural factors such as wind patterns, temperature and humidity can cause air pollution. Anthropogenic activities such as transportation and industrial emissions can also pollute the environment.

    Which cities in Tennessee have the best air quality?

    The award for best air quality in the Volunteer State goes to Nashville, Clarksville and Murfreesboro, according to First Street Data.

    The data shows that Nashville has better air than 60% of cities in Tennessee.

    Vaseline
    View all posts

    You Might Also Like