Climate committee calls for cooling plan

UK: The UK government’s Climate Change Committee has identified better cooling amongst measures to address the growing impacts of climate change in the UK.

The committee’s report – A Well-Adapted UK – published today, observes that the intensity and duration of future heatwaves mean that there needs to be a plan for more active cooling measures, such as air conditioning, alongside low-cost passive measures.

The report insists that by 2050, 92% of UK homes are likely to overheat, pushing the number of heat-related deaths to 3,000-10,000 per year. With the UK’s ageing population being particularly vulnerable, the report sees cooling as being especially important in care homes, and hospitals, in addition to people’s homes. 

It says that new buildings should be designed to keep people cool from the outset, with the possibility of low-cost passive cooling measures being sufficient interventions in some parts of the country.

“However, the intensity and duration of future heatwaves mean that we need to plan for more active cooling (such as air conditioning),” the report states.

“Active cooling measures, alongside low-cost passive measures, are more likely to be needed for retrofitting existing homes (which make up the majority of homes that will exist in 2050). For some homes, relying entirely on passive measures to keep temperature to safe levels would either be not possible or too expensive.”

It suggests creating at least one cool room in a house through low-cost active cooling could help avoid significant national-level increases in heat-related mortality if deployed in the 30% most vulnerable urban households. 

“Households and businesses will and should increasingly install cooling for their own comfort and productivity. Additional support might be needed to ensure that sufficiently effective cooling can be accessed by those who are both heat-vulnerable and low-income.” 

Heat pumps are seen as key to the transition away from fossil fuels, providing both low-carbon heating and cooling.

It also call for the creation of public cool spaces, changes in working practices, and support to deliver changes in behaviour for those at risk. 

It advocates low-cost passive measures, especially in new builds, and suggests the establishment of maximum temperature regulations for workplaces.

“This report is a clear warning that the UK can no longer treat cooling as an afterthought,” commented Heat Pump Association UK, chief executive, Charlotte Lee. “Heat pumps offer a practical long-term solution with many systems providing both efficient heating in winter and cooling in summer from the same technology. It is a timely reminder of the need to futureproof our buildings and energy systems now.

“Alongside accelerating the rollout of clean heating and cooling technologies, we should maximise the use of waste heat and invest in better insulation, shading and ventilation across homes and public buildings. By taking a whole-building approach, we can improve comfort, reduce pressure on the grid and better protect vulnerable people from the growing risks of extreme heat.”