Are UK homes being built to withstand the increasing warmer temperatures?

As you will probably be aware, the UK has just been through the second heat wave of the year with extreme temperatures reaching 40^o in some areas. This trend is only likely to increase over the next century.

So, the question is, how will our homes be able to manage these fluctuations in temperature to keep us cooler in summer but still warmer in winter.

Countries with hot, dry climates have buildings designed to withstand extreme temperatures, so how can we apply these methods in the UK? Mediterranean homes and those in other hot regions are constructed differently to stay cool. They use techniques like thicker walls and concrete blocks instead of bricks to reflect, rather than absorb, the sun’s rays. Windows are strategically placed to reduce direct sunlight exposure, minimising heat transfer inside the home. Tiled floors can also help keep interior rooms cool.

With modern methods of capturing the sun’s energy, new properties are being built with solar water heaters and integrated solar panels and radiant-heated thermal mass under floor heating that stores heat during sunlight hours and releases this in the cooler periods of the day.

With warmer summers on the increase, the UK needs to adopt some of these methods when building new properties. These measures will also improve the energy efficiency of buildings, so with fuel prices on the rise, homeowners could be protected from the fluctuations passed on by the energy providers.