This summer’s three official heatwaves highlighted how unprepared many UK buildings are for extreme temperatures. While warmer weather may be welcome to some, for many it poses serious health risks. Hospitals, where safeguarding vulnerable people is paramount, are particularly exposed. Ola Bialas, Principal Sustainability consultant at Hoare Lea, explores how UK hospitals must adapt to rising temperatures, balancing patient safety, energy use and climate resilience.
We are in the state of a climate emergency, and disruptive climate events will occur more often, and will become more severe. By 2070, the Met Office projects three potential climate scenarios for the UK:
The Met Office also predicts that heatwaves will be more frequent, persistent, and intense. People living in cities will be most affected, as the 'urban heat island effect' will amplify the temperatures experienced. Densely populated urban areas can be up to 10-15°C warmer than the countryside1 — a concerning statistic, especially when you consider that, in the next 25 years, it's likely that more than 80% of European populations will live in cities.
By 2050, the number of heat-related deaths in the UK is projected to rise to 10,000 a year, from around 2,000 per year currently. Overheating also affects mental health, maternal health, and increases risks of injuries and accidents. So, how will patients in hospitals be safe from the effects of overheating?
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