Advice to prepare your property for the changing climate

While the summer in the UK so far this year hasn’t exactly been hot and sunny, many other parts of Europe and elsewhere in the world have, of course, experienced extreme heat. It’s generally accepted that our homes in the UK aren’t well designed for a warming climate, but there are some relatively simple adaptations we can make to help keep our properties cooler as the weather heats up.

The Independent shared a series of low-tech yet effective options for keeping homes cooler. For example, simply installing external shutters or blinds on our windows can have a significant impact on the temperature of our homes.

Another simple step to take is to paint the exterior of your property in a pale colour, like white or cream (there’s a good reason why whitewash is the predominant option in most hotter countries).

If you are building your own home, or are carrying out extensive renovations on your property in Poole, Christchurch or Bournemouth, you could consider other options too, such as incorporating green roofs into the design of your home where appropriate. Not only does this help keep your property cool, but it also improves biodiversity, making it an excellent solution.

Similarly, if you are considering a garden landscaping project, explore whether you can remove some of the paving around your property and replace this with the likes of flower beds or a lawn. Paving retains far more heat than soil, so removing it can have a cooling effect, while the soil or grass is also useful in the winter when it can absorb rainfall, rather than contributing to surface water runoff as paving does.

Also look at where you can plant more trees and greenery in your garden to provide much-needed shade, both in your outdoor space and potentially for your property, all of which will help you keep cool when the heat does hit.

Not only are these all more environmentally friendly options than installing the likes of air conditioning units, but they also don’t require electricity to work, saving on energy bills which are already high enough.

As Sky News recently reported, the Met Office is predicting that persistent hot weather – like the spell of 40 degree-C heat parts of the UK experienced last summer – is likely to become the norm by as early as 2060. In fact, by the end of this century, the organisation expects 40 degrees C to be considered “cool” weather, giving an indication of what is to come.

Here at Bournemouth Constructions, we want to ensure everyone has a comfortable home to live in that is fit for purpose, and we do our best to recommend energy-efficient and eco-friendly solutions wherever possible during a construction or renovation project.

If you would like to chat to our experts about what alterations might be most suitable for your home in Christchurch, Bournemouth or Poole, please get in touch. We’ll be happy to assist you, discuss your requirements and provide a quote for any work you are interested in undertaking.