Extreme heat has arrived in the UK. In July 2022, temperatures over 40ºC were registered for the first time.
This blog explores effective, low-effort, low-cost, and rapidly-deployable solutions to keep homes cool during a UK heatwave. Most of these solutions are also landlord-friendly!
My name is Tom; I’m a chartered engineer and chartered environmentalist. At the beginning of my career, I developed an expertise in improving the performance of new buildings in heatwaves. Over the last 15 years, I’ve seen my efforts to improve summertime environmental performance realised in tens of new and refurbished building projects in London and the Southeast across different building typologies - from social housing to art galleries, museums, restaurants, and theatres. I worked with architects to refine the form and materials of their designs. I specified awnings, designed external shutters, and selected specialist glazing. These are all interesting ideas, but they're pretty unhelpful when you live in a rented flat with an unengaged landlord and there’s a major heatwave predicted next week. We need solutions that can be implemented tomorrow.
Climate experts predict heatwaves will become fiercer, longer and more regular. According to Oxford University Scientists, The UK is ‘dangerously unprepared’.
In the UK, extreme heat causes discomfort, poor sleep and significant impacts on the productivity of knowledge workers. Unfortunately, for the most vulnerable, extreme heat can also lead to death.
Regulatory measures exist to limit overheating in new buildings. But what about the homes the rest of us live in? How will you help your neighbour? In the UK, the worst effects will be felt in the urban areas of South East England.
I live in a terraced house in North East London with my two young kids, and my wife, who has just enough patience to tolerate my experimentation in applying these temporary modifications to our home.