Home / Environment / London Homes Overheat: Retrofit Regrets Emerge
London Homes Overheat: Retrofit Regrets Emerge
27 Jun
Summary
- Some London homes struggle with extreme heat despite retrofits.
- Retrofitting costs can be high, with skilled labor being expensive.
- Over a million London homes may need upgrades for extreme heat.
Catherine Katzka, a London homeowner, expressed regret about not installing air conditioning in her 2022 retrofitted townhouse as her home reached 28C during a 35C heatwave. While her mechanical ventilation heat recovery (MVHR) system is effective in winter, it circulates warm ambient air during hot summer days.
London's homes are particularly susceptible to the urban heat island effect, exacerbating heatwave conditions. Katzka's retrofitting project, costing approximately £100,000, focused on winter energy efficiency and emission reduction, yielding a 70% decrease in energy bills. However, she noted that recouping the investment might be challenging, partly due to the expense and difficulty in finding willing builders.
Officials estimate that over a million properties in London require retrofitting to address overheating, but a significant funding gap exists. The Greater London Authority plans to publish a Heat Risk Delivery Plan to manage extreme heat. The building industry's lack of coordination and a "whole house perspective" hinders effective retrofitting efforts.
