As the UK experiences more frequent hot summer days, the risk of overheating in homes becomes an ever-pressing issue. Recent research has shown that almost one in three homes across the UK are vulnerable to overheating, particularly as the climate continues to change. These neighborhoods today face an ongoing lack of access to green spaces and tree cover. Instead, millions of households are left to rely on them and other traditional forms of cooling, which do not adequately combat the effects of intensifying heat.
Given these mounting issues, specialists are tipping focused on practical approaches to manage the indoor conditions that people should be expecting. From utilizing natural ventilation to exploring innovative building materials, homeowners can take significant steps toward preventing overheating in their homes.
The Heat is On
The number of hot summer days in the UK has become so extraordinary that it is now raising questions about the habitability of certain areas. A recent national report found that one in three homes are at risk of extreme heat. At the same time, this trend is contributing to rising global temperatures as well as urban heat islands, which means it is especially important for homeowners to pivot.
Environmental factors are the most important in governing cooler temperatures within neighborhoods. Studies have found that, depending on the morphology, street trees can help lower ambient temperatures by as much as 5 degrees Celsius in the evenings. A shocking 25% of neighbourhoods across towns and cities in England are made up of areas with below 10% tree cover. The absence of shade trees exacerbates the heat equity crisis. Over a third of these neighborhoods have a lack of access to green spaces.
To make matters worse, many residents turn to power no-cost solutions by cracking a window or two to cool their homes down. That’s according to a recently released survey that found 91% of households in England use this approach. As it stands, only 11% use shutters, increasing to just 16% in London. Air conditioning, a far more common solution, is still not widely used, with only 3.6% of households having it as an option. In the north-west, however, this percentage decreases to 1.5% compared to the capital where its usage is considerably higher at 5.7%.
Embracing Natural Solutions
Homeowners looking for solutions to their summertime overheating problems have much to gain from adopting nature-inspired cooling technologies. The residents tend to leave their windows open at night to ventilate and cool their homes. In reality, 70% of households in the north of England use this mode more often than not, as do 63% in London. This seemingly small act helps cooler air flow in, which can help cool indoor spaces and reduce heat exposure.
Plus, well over half of African American households – and nearly half of Latinx households as well – use mechanical fans to circulate a cooling breeze indoors. Although these fans help cool homes down right away, they do little to fix root causes of overheating in homes. Instead, experts suggest investing in alternative long-term solutions that make more people feel comfortable enough to bike.
Cutting-edge building practices are becoming popular, especially in metropolitan areas. Cities across the world, from Athens to Algiers to Barcelona, are moving to curb heat absorption. In fact, they are piloting high solar reflective surfaces across their campuses. These kinds of initiatives underscore the promise and possibility of bringing new architectural energy and creative practice to residential design.
Exploring Technological Advancements
That’s why the UK government recently introduced schemes aimed at supporting homeowners’ search for comfort. One of the most interesting programs is the boiler upgrade scheme. Under this program, heat pumps installed by qualified electrical contractors will provide new residential customers with an energy efficient cooling & heating alternative. Further, by investing in such technology, homeowners are empowered to be proactive in their efforts to reduce their demand for traditionally energy-intensive cooling.
Urban areas across the globe are implementing new and creative urban planning tactics to fight rising angrier temperatures. For example, Beijing has been building 500-metre-wide ventilation corridors that link rivers and green spaces. These green corridors improve airflow and cool air in tightly packed urban communities.