Cerys Gardiner, 26, from the East Midlands, spent USD 1,500 to install wooden shutters on four front-facing windows to reduce heat absorption. Previously, she used temporary measures like hanging blankets over her windows to block the sun. Despite regularly running fans and opening windows in the early morning or at night for cooler air, the temperature inside her home remained high.

Cerys's home is not an isolated case amidst the intense heatwave currently sweeping across Europe. Many schools have closed, public transport is paralyzed, and numerous homeowners are questioning their design choices as temperatures approach 40 degrees Celsius.

The UK Health Security Agency has issued a red alert for heatstroke risk in several areas across England and Wales, alongside an amber alert for the remaining regions.

Cerys Gardiner in her UK apartment. Photo: Mirror

Cerys Gardiner in her UK apartment. Photo: Mirror

Heat accumulation is particularly severe in homes where kitchens and dining rooms have been renovated with large glass doors opening onto gardens.

Frances Barton, 43, from Berkshire, shared that her family removed a back wall to install a 4-meter-long sliding glass door. Following the renovation, their living room consistently reached around 30 degrees Celsius from early morning, making it unbearable in the summer. This forced the entire family to move their daily activities upstairs.

In Kent, Abigail Thomas, 38, faced a similar situation. Her south-facing living room, fitted with a sliding glass door, became a heat trap. Her family spent hundreds of USD on sun-blocking curtains and rearranged their living space to minimize sun exposure throughout the day. Abigail Thomas stated that she plans to install air conditioning.

Unlike Australia, where residential buildings are designed for hot climates, most structures in the UK are not adapted to withstand extreme heat events. Experts identify three types of homes most affected: those with south-facing gardens, open-plan homes with large glass doors, and newly constructed properties. Some residents have resorted to temporarily leaving their homes to stay in hotels during peak heat days, with others even considering relocating to properties with traditional window designs.

Rosie Montalbano, who lives in a newly built house, noted that the air inside her home felt more oppressive than outside. She attributes this to new home designs aimed at retaining heat for energy efficiency and maximizing winter light, which inadvertently traps heat during the summer months.

The UK Climate Change Committee commented that the current housing system is being built for a climate that is no longer relevant.

The British Red Cross in London advises residents to focus on cooling one to two primary spaces rather than their entire home. People are instructed to close windows, draw curtains, and limit the use of high heat-generating rooms, such as kitchens or rooms with large glass doors that receive direct sunlight.