Roofs Designed to Cool Report

The Roofs Designed to Cool Report, produced by Arup, provides an evidence base for installing "cool roof" retrofit measures on existing buildings across London to address increasing urban heat due to climate change. The report outlines how installing simple adaptation measures at scale could lower temperatures inside and outside buildings, resulting in positive impacts on health and wellbeing for Londoners.

By 2050, temperatures in London are projected to increase by 1.2°C in winter and 2.6°C in summer when compared with 1981-2010 figures (Met Office UK Climate Projections 18, 2020). These impacts will be felt by all Londoners, and particularly the most vulnerable. Therefore, there is a need for an urgent change in both the pace and depth of cooling measures in London, and particularly as part of retrofitting London’s existing building stock.

The focus of the report is in on four aspects:

• The development of a London ‘Roofs Designed to Cool’ retrofit programme for existing homes and buildings.

• The contribution that a London ‘Roofs Designed to Cool’ retrofit programme could have on reducing the intensification of the Urban Heat Island.

• The contribution that a London ‘Roofs Designed to Cool’ retrofit programme could add to making London’s public realm greener and cooler.

• The contribution that a London ‘Roofs Designed to Cool’ retrofit programme could make to training and skills development opportunities, especially for young Londoners.

The report highlights the impact that a ‘Roofs Designed to Cool’ retrofit programme could make to reducing health and social inequalities in London. It also highlights the importance of considering both cooling measures to adapt London’s buildings to warmer summer months alongside measures that efficiently warm homes during colder months.