Case Study on the Changing Climate and our Homes

Resilience to the changing climate is one of the greatest challenges facing society today. In this Case Study, we look at climate change and how it impacts our daily lives, including some of the challenges we face in making our existing homes fit for the future, ensuring we are comfortable and secure within them.

Introduction

Climate change is an increasingly pressing issue worldwide. As climate change accelerates, the UK faces increasing temperatures and more frequent heatwaves, which disproportionately impact older people. The vulnerability of older people is made worse by housing that fails to protect against rising temperatures, flooding and the other impacts of climate change such as more extreme weather events. This case study explores the urgent need to future-proof housing by focusing on design strategies and interventions and considers further the Knowledge Hub themes of Climate and Comfort and Energy. Drawing on insights from recent studies on climate change and energy performance, we outline how the existing almshouse stock requires adaptation to increased temperatures, to safeguard the wellbeing of older residents.

Challenges of overheating

The leading body of experts on climate change, the International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), reports that global temperatures are set to rise, with regional variations leading to increased heatwave frequency and intensity [1]. A heatwave in the UK is defined by the Met Office as “when a location records a period of at least three consecutive days with daily maximum temperatures meeting or exceeding the heatwave temperature threshold” [2]. The temperature thresholds vary across regions in the UK, and range from 25°C to 28°C depending on location (for example, Durham is 25°C, Greater London is 28°C).

Overheating in homes is becoming a more frequent problem due to rising temperatures. In recent years, the UK has experienced some of its hottest summers on record, with temperatures exceeding 30°C on multiple occasions. The Met Office Hadley Centre’s climate projections indicate that UK summers will become significantly hotter and drier due to climate change and emphasise the need for adaptive measures in housing [3]. Other recent work has examined the effects of climate change on healthy ageing and how strategies for age-friendly towns and cities need to align with climate change mitigation, as coping with climate change is highly relevant for community resilience amongst older people [4].

The UK Health Security Agency has documented a rise in heat-related deaths among individuals aged 65 and over [5], highlighting the necessity of addressing overheating in homes. The summer of 2023 was the eighth warmest on record [5] and was also the first season in which the new impact-based Heat-Health Alerts (HHA) through the Adverse Weather and Health Plan [6] were in operation. Health alerts are based on a yellow, amber and red alert system: yellow represents hot or cold weather that will not affect most people, an orange alert is weather that is likely to affect everyone, a red alert is extreme hot or cold weather when even healthy people are more likely to be unwell or die. Extreme heat poses significant health risks, particularly for people over 65 years who are more susceptible to heat-related illnesses due to diminished thermoregulatory abilities (your ability for your body to control temperature) and pre-existing health conditions. Chronic health conditions such as cardiovascular and respiratory diseases can exacerbate the impact of heat.

A way of visualising the changing climate was created by Professor Ed Hawkins at the University of Reading in 2018 [7], known as the ‘climate stripes’ (Figure 1 below). Each vertical stripe represents the average temperature for a single year from 1884 to 2023. Shades of blue represent cooler-than-average years, while red indicates hotter-than-average. The dramatic red band on the right-hand side clearly shows the rapid warming of the UK’s climate in recent decades.

Figure 1 Climate stripes (Source: Reading University)

Energy efficiency

The design and condition of housing plays a crucial role in how well residents can cope with high temperatures. Poor insulation, single-glazed windows and lack of shading contribute to high indoor temperatures. Additionally, urban areas with high-density housing experience higher temperatures than in surrounding rural areas due to heat absorption of buildings and pavements, which also keeps temperatures higher at night. The UK housing stock, particularly homes constructed before 1929, is often poorly insulated exacerbating overheating risks during heatwaves (see Figure 2 below). Older properties are generally less energy-efficient, with approximately one-third of homes built before 1919 in England being considered to be of poorer quality. Improving the energy performance of these homes is critical in both reducing overheating and making homes easier to heat during colder months, and as a result enhancing overall living conditions.

Figure 2: Percentage of dwellings with walls rated “average” or above by age, England and Wales, up to March 202, based on EPC data from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities on Open Data Communities, and Property Attributes data from the Valuation Office Agency (Source: Office for National Statistics [8])

Retrofitting measures, such as upgrading insulation, installing double-glazed windows and integrating passive cooling techniques such as solar shading devices and shutters (see Figure 3), can significantly reduce overheating risks. Whilst the adoption of modern cooling technologies like heat pumps and air conditioning systems can provide immediate relief during extreme heat events, these increase the energy burden on the system and the financial burden for residents. Passive (non-powered or low power) techniques for cooling, which require little or no energy to run, can offer a more efficient solution. Passive improvements not only enhance thermal comfort for the resident but also contribute to energy efficiency and reduced carbon emissions, aligning with Net Zero Targets for the UK. The transition to low-carbon technologies and renewable energy sources, such as solar panels, can provide longer-term benefits for residents and charities, and can be included in some grant funded improvements, such as the Home Upgrade Grant (Phase 2), which was available for those living without mains gas. An energy performance certificate (EPC) of C or better can help to unlock funding for retrofitting measures, improving both energy performance and thermal comfort.

Figure 3: External shutters on windows can help reduce the amount of heat penetrating through glazing. Here the external shutters at a hofje in the Netherlands have a practical use as well as an aesthetic one. Hofje are very much like almshouses in the UK (Source: author)

Policy and planning

Energy efficiency and decarbonization are critical components of future-proofing housing against climate change. The Knowledge Hub theme Energy underscores the importance of reducing energy demand and carbon emissions to meet legislative requirements and enhance resident well-being. Government policies can play a pivotal role in promoting climate-resilient housing. The UK Government Climate Change Committee (CCC) advocates for integrating climate adaptation into housing policies, emphasizing the need for stringent building standards and financial incentives for retrofitting [9]. Local authorities must prioritize funding and support for low-income households and older people living in substandard housing. Two of the nine key messages from the CCC report are:

• Empower and inform households and communities to make low-carbon choices. Despite some positive steps to provide households with advice on reducing energy use in the last year, a coherent public engagement strategy on climate action is long overdue.
• Planning policy needs radical reform to support Net Zero. The planning system must have an overarching requirement that all planning decisions must be taken giving full regard to the imperative of Net Zero. [10, bullet 7].

Building regulations are regularly updated to ensure new constructions are designed to withstand higher temperatures and other climate impacts. The new Part O of the Building Regulations came into effect in June 2022 to specifically address overheating. As noted in the Knowledge Hub themes on Enhancing the Built Environment, charities managing older housing stock face challenges in complying with evolving regulations while ensuring residents’ well-being. Figure 4 shows a successful example of improved performance. Establishing clear and consistent policies for new homes and for retrofitting existing will facilitate strategic decision-making and long-term planning for energy conservation measures, which in turn will impact building performance to improve thermal stability – keeping homes cooler in summer and warmer in winter.

Figure 4: New build bungalows built by Durham Aged Mineworkers Homes Association (DAMHA) to higher standards than those they replaced, including improved insulation and thermal efficiency (Source: author)

Urban planning should also focus on creating cooler environments through green spaces and urban cooling strategies such as using buildings to overshade each other, deep overhangs or window reveals, and introducing evaporative cooling into public spaces through water features and/or tree planting. Streetscapes need to incorporate cool or shaded areas to sit and rest, especially important for older people, or those with underlying health conditions. These measures are critical for creating sustainable, liveable communities that can adapt to the changing climate, and additionally provide opportunities for social interaction. Some of these approaches can be implemented by almshouses in their existing environment, for example, planting trees for shade or introducing a simple water feature, measures not always requiring planning permission. Almshouse charities could additionally collaborate with their local authority or local environmental campaigning group to provide these facilities in their nearby streetscapes, contributing to the wider liveable community.

The main learning point is that small measures can make a significant difference, across different aspects of life. The Knowledge Hub theme Gardens explores this further, and documents how gardens, and the life they can contain, are appreciated by residents.

Community engagement

Effective community engagement is essential for successful climate adaptation. Older people, who are directly affected by overheating, possess valuable insights into their homes’ performance and can identify areas needing improvement. Educational campaigns, workshops and shared learning platforms can empower older people to take proactive steps in improving their thermal comfort and reducing energy consumption, alongside taking other measures in extreme heat such as remaining well-hydrated.

Involving residents in planning and implementing retrofit projects ensures that interventions are tailored to their specific needs and preferences. This collaborative approach can lead to practical, effective solutions and foster resilience against future climatic shocks and has the potential to reduce social isolation, which can worsen the situation as many older people live alone and may lack the support network needed to help them manage during heatwaves. Limited mobility and access to cool environments can further compound their risk. Designing in communal space that can provide a level of cooling and comfort in hot weather, outside of the home, can help to increase opportunities for incidental interactions. A recent example of this is at Appleby Blue almshouses, where their ground floor courtyard garden combined with a rooftop garden with access to the prevailing wind are a success in terms of providing outdoor space for residents, habitat for biodiversity in the city, and cooling opportunity through transpiration evaporation (see Figure 6 below).

Figure 6: Water in the courtyard of Appleby Blue almshouse in Southwark, London. Combined with tree planting and vegetation, water can help cooling through evaporation and transpiration (Source: author)

Conclusion

Climate change presents significant challenges to the well-being of older people, particularly regarding overheating in housing. Addressing these challenges requires a multifaceted approach, including retrofitting existing homes, designing new buildings with climate resilience in mind and implementing effective policy measures. Government action, community engagement and strategic planning are all crucial for creating a sustainable and equitable future. So too is including overheating risk in the strategic planning of almshouses.

Insights from the IPCC, the Met Office Hadley Centre and recent studies on energy performance highlight the importance of integrating climate adaptation into housing policies and practices. By prioritizing the needs of older people and ensuring their homes are equipped to handle the impacts of climate change, we can build a more resilient and inclusive society.

References

[1] IPCC (2023). Climate Change 2023: Synthesis Report. Contribution of Working Groups I, II and III to the Sixth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change [Core Writing Team, H. Lee and J. Romero (eds.)]. IPCC, Geneva, Switzerland, pp. 35-115.

[2] Met Office. (n.d.). What is a heatwave?

[3] Met Office (2023) Met Office Hadley Centre observations datasets: HadCET.

[4] H. Dabelko-Schoeny, G. D. Dabelko,.S. Rao, M. Damico, F. C. Doherty, A. C. Traver, & M. Sheldon. (2024). Age-Friendly and Climate Resilient Communities: A Grey–Green Alliance. The Gerontologist, 64(3), gnad137. doi:10.1093/geront/gnad137

[5] UK HSA. (2024a). Heat mortality monitoring report: 2023. GOV.UK.

[6] UK HSA. (2024b). Adverse weather and health plan 2024-2025. GOV.UK.

[7] University of Reading, Climate stripes

[8] ONS (2023) Insulation and energy efficiency of housing in England and Wales: 2022.

[9] Climate Change Committee. (2023a). Progress in reducing UK emissions: 2023 report to Parliament.

[10] Climate Change Committee. (2023b). 2023 Progress Report to Parliament – Key Messages.