London is sweltering under a heatwave with temperatures of up to 32 degrees Celsius, and our homes are not designed to beat the heat.
Two in three Londoners report that their homes are ‘unbearably hot’, according to a new report from Direct Line. Estate agents have reported a 95 per cent increase in buyers seeking homes with air conditioning systems.
Not only is a hot house uncomfortable, it can disrupt your sleep — 80 per cent of UK adults reported that they struggled to get enough shut-eye in higher temperatures.
Many London homes quickly reach 25 degrees Celsius, the maximum indoor temperature recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO), according to a recent study conducted by the Bureau of Investigative Journalism (TBIJ) and the University of Glasgow’s Urban Big Data Centre.
Overheating London homes can be caused by a number of things, the report found. Some new builds designed for energy efficiency can be difficult to keep cool, while older blocks with communal heating systems can also be difficult to stop overheating.
Air conditioning could improve the re-sale value of your home (more on that later), but before you take that step there are other things you can try to keep your home cool this summer.
Keep those curtains closed
Ever wondered why homes on the European continent have those pretty shutters? It’s a solution for hot days when exterior temperatures are rising and the sun is beating down.
You can recreate the effect by keeping your curtains drawn and blinds down during the day — especially in rooms that are south-facing.
The WHO also recommends closing your windows in the day, although your mileage may vary if you’re lucky enough to have a dual aspect in your home that allows for cross-ventilation. Open windows on both side of the home and keep doors propped open to stop them slamming.
At night, open the windows to allow cool drafts into your bedroom. It’s also a good idea to shut off any unnecessary electrical devices that could be heating your home up.
Become a fan of fans
There are so many fans on the market to choose from these days that the choice can be a little overwhelming. Luckily, the Standard team have put together a handy list of all the best fans from different categories.
Tower fans are great for cooling a room, and there are some that come with helpful add-ons if you want to use them to help you get to sleep.
Look out for extra quiet fans if the noise bothers you (although some people enjoy the bonus white noise effect) and remote control activated models if you want to turn it on and off without getting out of bed. There are also smart fans that can be controlled via an app or offer added benefits such as air purifying.
Pedestal fans are also good for larger areas, particularly if you want an oscillating function, although they bring more of an office vibe to your home.
Should you invest in air conditioning?
Air conditioning is a bit of a Catch-22 situation. Traditionally UK houses have rarely had it as standard, but as climate change ramps up and extreme heat becomes a more frequent occurrence, it’s beginning to become more popular.
Four in five estate agents told Direct Line that they had noticed an uptick in properties with air conditioning coming to market, while 36 per cent said that built-in air-con would increase the asking price of your home.
You can get your own personal air conditioner unit for under £15 — the JML Chillmax Air Go can even be clipped on to a pushchair or car seat.
There are also larger options that require proper installation, including wall-mounted or window-mounted units. But before you rush out to buy one, consider that you may be making it hotter for everyone in the long run.
“Air conditioning contributes to the heat in the urban environment,” warns Antonietta Canta, principle environmental and sustainability engineer at Arup. “If they were installed everywhere we would make the problem worse and worse.”
Essentially air conditioners work as a heat pump, cooling your bedroom by transferring all the warm air outside. Air conditioner usage is set to triple by 2050, which will accelerate the vicious cycle of urban heating. Perhaps it’s best to stick it out with a fan in a darkened room, if you can.
