Death Valley is one of the hottest places on Earth and regularly reaches temperatures into the high 40s. It’s completely inhospitable for most human beings so why should we even consider working/living in a building that gets as hot as Death Valley?
Tests show that some buildings in London can reach temperatures upwards of 45°C as a result of solar heat gain (London Southbank University / BBSA). And, with global warming on the up, it’s only getting hotter too.
SO WHY ARE WE BANGING ON ABOUT IT?
Along with soaring energy bills to cool buildings down and the damage that causes to the environment, there are also big health risks for inhabitants to consider too. The major problems that solar heat gain can produce fit into three main categories.
ECONOMICAL
- Energy costs rise due to expensive air conditioning and computer equipment working harder to keep themselves cool
- Employees struggle to concentrate in warmer rooms, resulting in lower productivity and a drop in income
ENVIRONMENTAL
- It’s not all about saving on your energy costs. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) warns that, given the current trends, energy-related emissions will increase by 70 per cent by 2050
- This can accelerate the negative consequences of climate change, including higher temperatures and a rise in the frequency of extreme weather events
HEALTH
- Risk of heat stress causing an inability to concentrate, muscle cramps, severe thirst, fainting, heat exhaustion, fatigue and headaches are all too real.
WHY ARE BUILDINGS SO HOT?
Well, it’s an amalgamation of a few things. Firstly, as building materials get better, with innovation in insulation and double glazing being the standard, there’s been a 23% reduction in heat loss since 1970 (Palmer & Cooper, 2013).
Secondly, we now try and keep windows closed due to noise pollution affecting 76% of people in the UK (Quality Mark, 2016) so cultural and behavioural factors also play a big part.
And thirdly, urbanisation introduces additional sources of heat (e.g. anthropogenic heat).
HOW CAN WE HELP?
It seems architects and main contractors aren’t taking solar heat gain into consideration at the initial planning stage of projects. Solar shading is often an afterthought, or even worse, overlooked entirely.
With major risk to businesses and people, building planners should be viewing solar shading at the beginning of projects. We need to create clear procedures to monitor overheating and educate builders, planners and designers on how to effectively mitigate solar heat gain.
There’s a whole range of solutions to mitigate solar heat gain in buildings from external solar shading and internal blinds to specialised glazing. We don’t think there’s just one solution for solar shading.
Solar shading should be approached using data, insight and external considerations – solar shading should be viewed holistically within the building plans to find the right solution for the building and its inhabitants.
