The extremely hot weather which has gripped the UK recently has prompted lots of talk about how we can keep buildings cool.

Blinds, shutters and awnings are coming up more and more in these discussions and the evidence of their effectiveness in reducing overheating is being shared far and wide.

Solar shading – in all of its forms – is a passive and proven solution to overheating and it’s been used for thousands of years.

From the Colosseum in ancient Rome to the fully glazed Shard in modern day London, there’s no getting away from the fact solar shading works.

With intense heatwaves set to become more frequent, NOW is the time for you to find your local accredited BBSA member and help heatwave proof your home and workplace.

Here, we look at some recent media reports in which the benefits of solar shading products are looked at.

• UK heatwave: Why converted office homes could become uninhabitable if roasting temperatures become more common – The Independent
• How to build the heatwave-proof houses of the future – The Times
• If we want to cope with heatwaves, we need to look to Europe – The Independent
• Climate-wrecking air conditioning units aren’t the only way to survive a heatwave – The Guardian