Temperatures in the UK reached an historic high of 40°C today - a record that is expected to soon be surpassed. Without a major overhaul of the country's infrastructure, these extreme conditions could lead to soaring numbers of heat-related deaths.
Much of England and Wales are currently under a ‘red’ extreme heat warning, with daily record-breaking high temperatures causing disruption on transport networks and posing a serious risk to the health of the population. With the possibility of this heat becoming a ‘new normal’ for large parts of the country, government climate change advisors have highlighted the need to address the problem of overheating in UK homes - or face deadly consequences.
The UK has little regulation to prevent overheating in new buildings, despite the fact that as many as 4.6 million homes overheat every year in England alone, according to a recent survey by Loughborough University.
If no action is taken to keep homes from...