To think buildings in the UK need to be adapted to this heat?

[Glaceonn]

I know I’m not alone in this, I wonder how it is in high rise flats? My flat is 40 degrees plus in some rooms. What is the answer though because air conditioning as standard would make environmental issues even worse.

There’s no air conditioning in hospitals, care homes, on the tube, buses as far as I know.

Some people simply can’t cope in this heat, I know I’m speaking from a biased viewpoint but I’m not the only one. I can’t remember the last time I wore a jacket in the day, so it’s not just ‘a few days of heat’ where I am.

It’s making me have panic attacks, there is barely any air. If it was extremely cold but we had no heating, we’d be able to expect our landlord to make the place warmer for us.

I’ve had one hour of sleep and can’t articulate my thoughts very well!

Is it technically possible to have buildings that keep you warm in the winter and cool in the summer without air-con?
I put my heating on in October last year and tried to switch it off in May, but it was so cold it kept clicking on until mid June (Midlands).
So tbh I rather put up with a few weeks of hot weather than be cold for a least 7 months of the year.

@WorldsBestBoss

Depends what part of the Uk - south of England could definitely do with air conditioning in homes. Scotland never really gets hot enough for it to be worth it. Can't comment on other areas as not lived anywhere else long enough to know.

I'm in Scotland (and not the far south of it either). Our house is South facing and tell insulated. Too well insulated - our bedroom was 30 degrees in the middle of the night here. The ceiling fan - which I thought was totally unnecessary when we bought the house - was going all night.

Also shutters. Shutters on windows like in France really keep out heat.

@TheGumption

Obviously summer is more than just a few days but we don't get weeks and weeks of 29/30 degrees!

When I lived in the South East we would get weeks and weeks of 25+ weather with "heatwaves" of over 30. On a few occasions I got in my car and it was reading 36.

Yes I live in the South East, 25+ is warm but it's not a heatwave. I could understand if we got weeks of 30+ but it's really only a few days at a time. It would be ridiculous to spend money installing air con everywhere, not to mention the environmental issues.

Our house is South facing and tell insulated. Too well insulated - our bedroom was 30 degrees in the middle of the night here.

This comment makes no sense. The source of heat is the sun, which is outside the house. If your house is well insulated, it should keep the heat out in summer, and in in winter when the heat is provided inside the house by central heating. Insulation does its job in both seasons if you let it - keep windows, doors and curtains closed in summer and only open them in early mornings/at night when its cooler.

It’s never more than a few days a year at best that it is very hot

It was roasting the majority of the time we were in lockdown last year, starting from April!

Because it’s not that hot here !

It’s unbearable right now

But it won’t last

@Maggiesfarm

Air conditioning is a good idea.

You can buy free standing air con units for times like this (which we don't have that often, UK is not known for endless hot weather).

I think new builds will have air con in the future.

Sorry but new residential builds won't have air con in the future. Planners (quite rightly) are more concerned about climate change and achieving net zero carbon where possible.

There are more efficient methods to reduce overheating and solar glare in high rise flats.

To the OP, can you get an electric fan?

Is it technically possible to have buildings that keep you warm in the winter and cool in the summer without air-con?

Sort of - what you want is really well insulated solid homes with smaller windows. That way they stay cooler in summer, and trap the heat in when you heat them in winter.

All these people doing kitchen extensions with skylights and then bifold doors on two walls that open up.... that's how to have a hot kitchen, all the glass is like a greenhouse.

Shutters - close the shutters all day, open in the evening to let evening air in.

If you see a block of flats somewhere naturally boiling like Rome this is what everyone has done.

Just closing our thick curtains all day is making some difference possibly psychological

I’m sorry I feel too ill to reply individually but thanks so much for the responses, interesting to read. Seems a mixture, and I take on board I might be unreasonable. I forgot about schools as well (no school ages dc) and how hard that must be in this weather.

I have 2 fans, they honestly don’t do anything in this weather. I have health conditions too which make it harder in the heat. All I’m asking for is a choice, a place to escape to just like in winter we can ‘escape’ by putting the heating on. I feel like crying.

DH is from Sicily where it regularly gets to 40-45c in the summer and every house has external shutters. As soon as the sun hits glass it makes the house like a greenhouse, so you keep shutters closed when the sun is on that side of the house and have an awning or veranda for extra shade. The problem with newer builds in the UK is the fashion for massive windows and bifold doors, all that glass just makes the house so much hotter.

I'm currently sat here with every door and window wide open - up and downstairs. The air feels deliciously cool, whereas it was still and stuffy inside when we woke. In about 10 mins I'll go round and close them all and draw all the blinds. Yes it's like living in a cave indoors, but the temperature difference between in and out is huge - i love coming back to a cool house!

If you have an open window or a fan then if you hang a wet sheet or towel, or even put a bowl of cold water in front then it enhances the cooling effect.

Freeze bags with wet towels (best is to get gel ice packs) and put them on front of the fan. Otherwise that fan is just moving hot air around.

@Saisong

If you have an open window or a fan then if you hang a wet sheet or towel, or even put a bowl of cold water in front then it enhances the cooling effect.

Yes I do this sometimes and it helps a bit, better than nothing!

It seems maybe shutters or awnings might be the way forward then, maybe they could be added as standard to buildings. I’m very concerned about climate change so accept that A/C isn’t a viable option.

Houses Designed for the heat and cool rather than just aircon.
So back to things like high ceiling heights, ceiling fans, well placed breeze ways so there is good airflow through houses, double glazing, blinds/window shutters closed at the hottest parts of the day, high windows opened in the cool if the night, well placed eves so they catch the winter sun but shade windows for the summer.

It’s more than just the odd day. I’m in the north but it’s been a week so far of temperatures too warm at night to easily sleep.

I know what you mean OP, average temperatures are getting hotter and our homes aren’t designed for it. And the heat causes excess deaths even in this country, which I thought we all cared deeply about now.

Things like external shutters, coated windows, creation of more shade could be part of a government scheme in the same way solar panels were, and insulation measures.

Everyone having AC units doesn’t seem like the answer due to environmental impact, much as selfishly I will probably buy myself one this year.

In the meantime close your blinds/curtains during the heat of the day, get a fan and open your windows in the late evening until you go to bed.
We spent 10 years living in Sydney without aircon when it’s so hot that it’s still over 30 at night then you can’t cool down as me need aircon!

It’s bothering me more than usual because of working from home. I used to be allowed to go to a deliciously cold office all day so didn’t mind the heat so much when I got home. Today I will take an unnecessary trip to the big supermarket on my lunch break just to get a chance to feel cool.

A Cold shower just before bed helps too!

The irony is that more air con will increase global warming. Buildings with windows that open are a better idea.

I know what you mean OP, average temperatures are getting hotter and our homes aren’t designed for it.

Exactly. I think it's right time tos tart thinking about heat proofing houses here. Anyone thinking it will be the same in 10 years is naive. We have longer heatwaves while Europe is drowning and having f4 tornados...
Extreme weather is not only on a way. It's here

@Mypathtriedtokillme

Houses Designed for the heat and cool rather than just aircon. So back to things like high ceiling heights, ceiling fans, well placed breeze ways so there is good airflow through houses, double glazing, blinds/window shutters closed at the hottest parts of the day, high windows opened in the cool if the night, well placed eves so they catch the winter sun but shade windows for the summer.

Yes this makes a lot of sense.