Passive cooling emphasised as overheating rates jump to 82%

Passive cooling emphasised as overheating rates jump to 82%.  Indoor overheating in the UK has increased from 20% in 2011 to 82% in 2022, according to a new study.

It also found the use of air conditioning units has increased from 3% to 20% during the same period.

The University of East London study was published in the journal Energy Research & Social Science and states ‘heat adaptation will require urgent policy to promote passive cooling strategies’.

External shading, one example of passive cooling, can reduce heat gain from the sun by up to 92%.

The BBSA has conducted its own research and is sponsoring further studies to analyse the benefits of external shading and ventilation to reduce overheating.

Other research has highlighted similar concerns but this restates the urgency to act.

It comes as the Demonstration of Energy Efficiency Potential (DEEP) is published by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, also highlighting the benefits of solar shading.