UK homes are getting warmer and it’s predicted that climate change will create a cooling challenge
Here in the UK, heatwaves are becoming more common and this is causing our homes to heat up. This can be very uncomfortable for the inhabitants and can also lead to health issues such as heatstroke and dehydration.
A recent report from the Climate Change Committee has shown that homes in the UK are not prepared for the effects of climate change including the predicted higher average temperatures. In fact, while a lot has been done to help us keep our homes warm, very little thought has been given to cooling our homes effectively. This means the problem of overheating homes is only going to get worse.
The recent increase in night time temperatures adds to the problem, as our homes do not cool down sufficiently between the hot days. This leaves us suffering uncomfortable nights and leads to sleepless nights. Plus, our bodies need cooler nights to recover from the day’s heat.
So, if you have had enough of sweltering through scorching days and muggy nights, then we have a few solutions.
Why do our homes overheat?
The warmer temperatures and increased heatwaves are the cause of our homes overheating. But the structure of many buildings compounds the problem. Many of the houses we live in today were built over a century ago when average temperatures were cooler.
Even more recently constructed houses have not factored cooling into their design. For example, double glazing often has a special low-E coating to prevent heat loss in winter. However, this coating also prevents unwanted heat from escaping in summer. So, on hot sunny days, the sun’s rays enter through glazing and then the heat becomes trapped inside.
What can you do to help keep your home cool?
You can cool your home in several ways from improving ventilation to installing air conditioning. However – because much of the heat enters your home through windows – the Climate Change Committee suggests that shutters or blinds can be a very effective way of keeping your home cool and protecting you from excess heat.
In fact, shutters are so effective that The Department of Energy suggests they can reduce heat gain by up to 77 percent.
Here are some window treatments that can help you keep cool.
Shutters
Shutters have the same benefits as slatted blinds but are even more flexible because each section can be adjusted independently to let in more or less light. This can help you block most of the sun’s rays without having to be in darkness all day.
Shutters are ideal for large windows and rooms such as living rooms, sunrooms and conservatories. Shutters can be fitted over doors and patio doors, too, which can be a real help in keeping your home cool in a heatwave, while still allowing easy access in and out.
Shutters create a cooling effect
Blinds
Blinds are very effective at keeping your home cooler as the slats can be adjusted to reflect the sun’s rays away from your windows. In addition, it is easy to adjust the blinds to let in light when you need it. Blinds can be very useful in rooms such as living rooms and family rooms as they can be adjusted to reduce glare and heat while still letting in light.
With many of us working from home more often, having a comfortable working environment is more important than ever. This makes blinds an essential feature of home offices as they can be adjusted to reduce glare on monitors and TV screens. The blinds can also be tilted upward to reflect sunlight onto the ceiling, which will offer natural light without too much heat or glare.
If you are looking for blinds to keep your home cool, then blinds with reflective coatings can be particularly effective. Room darkening blinds are even more effective as they block the sun’s rays from entering your home completely. These are ideal for bedrooms as they keep the room cool, giving you a more comfortable night’s sleep.
You can also use blinds in combination with shutters or curtains to help you control the light and sun entering your home even more effectively.
Room darkening blinds
Why choose Shutterwise?
Here at Shutterwise, we design and install made-to-measure high-quality window shutters and blinds that can help your home stay warm in winter and cool in summer. We offer a variety of materials, styles and colours to suit every window or door and can customise our shutters to match any colour.
If you think shutters or blinds could be the solution to keeping cool at home contact us on 0208 977 4627 for a free initial consultation.
More information/references
- UK homes unfit for the challenges of climate change, CCC says – Climate Change Committee (theccc.org.uk)
- UK housing: Fit for the future? – Climate Change Committee (theccc.org.uk)
- UK warned it is unprepared for climate chaos – BBC News