London’s risk from rising temperatures

Like many of us, I live in a flat and have no garden. During heatwaves I would really like access to a nearby garden not too far to walk in the heat ie I wld like access to the garden that’s attached to our house - annoyingly it’s a 4-flat house but only 2 flats have access to the garden 

This summer we are doing the same in terms of keeping the house cool.

London needs to deal provide more street shading, retrofitting shades to public buildings particularly schools and hospitals, more public drinking water access, cooling public transport. Identify vulnerable populations in housing that overheats easily.

2022 was very difficult with two children under ten at home. We are lucky that our home has a shady garden and we are able to open doors and windows on both sides and get a breeze through. We tried to keep the house cool with curtains, put ice packs in freezer and opened windows late at night. We limited outdoor activity for the children and consumed cold food and drinks.

Worst though was being at work in a school. It was nigh on impossible to function properly in rooms that were in the high 30s. The school buildings were not designed to cope with temperatures being experienced. It was hard to work and for the children to concentrate. We had to cancel outdoor activities because it was not safe to carry on in the high temperatures.

I helped my elderly neighbour by getting food for her so she didn't have to go out in the heat.

I go into survival mode during the heat waves attempting to manage the internal heat and therefore my well being. Most other things are put on hold. It seems wrong that our properties appear to have so many issues and limitations. We must only build properties that will be able to mitigate against extreme heat without reliance on air conditioning and adding to the heat island effect.
 

Incentives for freeholders to make flats heatproof, eg installation of shutters and sun sails to protect balconies. 

Incentives for freeholders to install charge points for electric cars.

Incentives for freeholders to maintain adaequate green spaces / trees. 

Future housing blocks architecture to account for heatwaves, in regards of window size / cover, shutters, air circulation, insulation, outside spaces and shades, solar power, green spaces.

It's only a few weeks each year so I am not even thinking about air conditioning although a few neighbours have had it installed. We should do what many warm countries do and use fans. I recently stayed in a rental with a tower fan and it was very effective so I plan to get one. Maybe councils could make fans available to low income people.

A ceiling fan like they have in many American homes is also very effective especially at night. Maybe they will catch on here.

It is also encouraging me to think about solar panels again.

Keep drinks in the fridge and ice cubes in the freezer.

Wear sensible clothing for the weather.

Plant trees whenever you can.

Take a drink on the the underground.

Check on elderly neighbours. 

Sadiq needs to do more to tackle climate change and that means big changes in behaviour such as less car use and night time deliveries to take vans and lorries off the road during the day. In Paris SUVs have been banned from the centre. London should do the same. Sadiq should take 100 000 cars off the roads of London to encourage walking and wheeling and make the roads safer and increase use of public transport.

Its 28 degrees in my flat right now. 

We need to think about long term sustainable measures that will protect wildlife and biodiversity aswell as vulnerable humans. If we humans keep invading wildlife habitats when we get too warm, the knock on effect of biodiversity loss will impact our ability to survive too. We must protect nature in order to protect ourselves. We are all nature.

We need to think about large scale redesign and future proofing, not sticking plasters like black out blinds. 

I live in a two bed flat with floor to ceiling windows in the lounge and a balcony. I close blinds and curtains on all of my windows and keep windows closed during the day and night. I have a portable air conditioner in the lounge which keeps the temp at 24 degrees C and a silent fan in the bedroom which keeps me cool at night. Only sheets on the bed no blankets.

Plant trees, trees, trees and get rid of fake grass. Perhaps there could be a grant for digging up concrete in gardens. 

Best I can achieve is 25c inside when 30c forecast. Studio flat, top floor tower block, 1960’s with a lot of windows to footprint, flat roof, east facing. Lived here for over 10yrs and done a lot of research on the subject. My current approach: 
Fabric draped outside over all balcony windows. Can’t manage on kitchen windows due to drop. Balcony windows now don’t feel hot at all when the sun hits the cloth.
Follow the closing curtains / windows during the day, open at night (based on temperature)
Needs cooler evenings.
I can’t do anything about the flat roof. 
Property design poor not allowing a through flow breeze. 
Can’t afford to buy/ run good fans or air con and it’s a small property.
Limit generating heat through cooking etc. 

Takes effort to manage the system but worth it! 
 

Need to remove block paving and concrete from front gardens and recreate green spaces.

Parking restrictions  should be free for residents that commit to do this .

Ban plastic grass, it is an abomination!

My road needs more trees - we have no public trees - I also want to depave our concrete drive but cannot afford to fo this on my own - I read that the first meter of concrete nearest the house is crucial for it to be greened over so it does not reflect back the heat into the house 

I’m a flat dweller so all decisions would need to be whole house decisions by freeholder 

If Sadiq Khan is so bothered about heat in London I suggest he allows the drivers on buses to switch on the air conditioning a bus driver friend has told me that he’s not allowed to put the air conditioning on as it increases the cost of petrol/electricity etc.

This time round I have double glazing which feels like it helps keep the heat out - not sure if I’m right.

This time I’m exercising early morning and then staying in 

Always wear hat

Scale back activities - scale back shopping as too hot to walk to supermarket 

Open windows at back of house cooler and close at front. Draw curtains at front 

Drink loads water and ice pop in freezer 

Make smoothies with frozen fruit 

need action to be take for risk manage climate change