. At best, an overly hot home is an unpleasant place to live or work. But for the most vulnerable people, overheating can be deadly. And things will continue to get worse unless the UK comes to terms with its current—and future—climate and starts adapting homes to suit long, hot summers.were built before 1946—a higher percentage than in any European Union country. Often these are small, terraced houses that struggle to dissipate heat coming in through the windows.
“Most of these homes were designed for a completely different climate,” says Anna Mavrogianni, a professor at the Bartlett School of Environment, Energy, and Resources at University College London. Historically, homes in the UK were designed to trap the sun’s rays and minimize heat loss during mild summers and cool winters. There’s a reason the aspirational suburban British house—think of Mick and Pam’s bungalow in the sitcom—features big patio doors that open onto the garden.
1 degree Celsius warmer than the period 1961-1990, and all of the UK’s top 10 warmest years have occurred this century. This issue is compounded when you consider where the UK’s overheated homes are located. The paved streets and cramped buildings of London trap heat, making the city up to 10 degrees Celsius warmer than surrounding areas.
Overheated homes are bad news for a variety of reasons. Warm bedrooms lead to disrupted sleep, which can mean reduced