London’s risk from rising temperatures

It is important to learn from other cities abroad and see how they cope with the extreme heatwaves. But one of the first things to be done would be to try and mitigate the concrete island effect and for the buidlings to be able to cool down in  the evenings, during a heatwave. It is also important to find ways to keep the green spaces green as it will help with the cooling down. shaded areas are also important along with the good airflow.

I have lived in continental Europe for years where heatwaves are very common for the last decade or so. Closing the windows in the morning after leaving them opened all night and pull the blinds off are a good solution to keep the cool air inside. However, what really help reduce the indoor building temperature is proper building insulation and external blind instead of interior blinds/curtain. Old flats can tend to trap the heat in their walls which can quickly become a vboiling room. Stricter regulation on building requirement (old and new) and government support/subventions to encourage landlords to renovate their properties can be good solutions to help renters to live in cooler flats during heatwaves. 

I own my home but its a block so I can't do anything to the outside or roof or install heat pumps. Freeholders need to be incentivised. There's so much roof here for solar panels 

Our 1935 mid terrace house is boiling. The roof conversion where we sleep is basically an oven when nighttime temps are 20° or more. 
This time round we keep all curtains shut, open the windows and use fans. I’ve added a sail shade over the glass doors at the back. This makes a big difference. Really, we need to be able to add shades to all the windows somehow. Air con in the roof extension would be good but it’s expensive so we have two fans. 
When it’s 28° or more we need fans on in whichever room we are in.

Our back garden is small but has 5 trees. This doesn’t make any difference as far as I can tell.

The issue is the night time temps: if the house can’t cool down over night it becomes unbearably hot. In 2022 I couldn’t stay in the house and had to sit in a local cafe with air con.

Our cats basically bury themselves under bushes and don’t come in at all other than to eat!

As a private house owner with middle income, we get zero help from the council but can’t afford to pay for any eco-mitigations. If we were not working we’d possibly get more help. 

Fully funded solar panels would be helpful, to help pay for the cost of electricity to run the fans / heating gin winter. But, we need  full regulation of solar panel providers. We nearly lost £7K to one even though they were on the allegedly certified list. 

As for public transport: the buses are BOILING, the tube is hell, trains only randomly have air con. You want us to not drive, so make public transport less horrendous in the heat!!
 

I opened windows first thing and then closed all windows and curtains about 9am.  I was anxious and it worried me when I could smell smoke.  I listened to the radio to keep myself updated about the situation in this area.  

Similar to above except I now have a better fan to keep air moving.

Huge number of badly designed flats being put up which in themselves create heat problems (absorbing heat during day), no shutters or awnings (possibly not allowed) and lack of green space around flats to absorb heat. So temperatures are going up and the tower blocks are glass hot boxes, heating up all day. We have to use blackout blinds but the heat is terrible, causing misery and affecting the vulnerable - many of whom grew up in a much cooler London.

Building regs need strengthening, orientation of new builds should avoid direct sunlight, reflective surfaces can help avoid heat storage. Need concerted effort to plant and manage more shade trees. Need shaded bus shelters, better ventilation or cooling on buses and tubes and trains. Misting stations could help in central London.

Living with heat in London is difficult at the best of times but post partum with a small baby having to get buses to baby appointments which take multiple buses and having to stand with the buggy when you feel extra dehydrated from breastfeeding because there is nowhere to sit on some buses with the buggy. I've felt sick, dizzy and worried for mine and my babies safety. 

Some buses have air con but everyone opens the windows so all the cold air leaves the bus anyway. On these hot days regulating the service and leaving us all dripping in sweat isn't acceptable. Shade at bus stops needs to be an essential. 

There are many vulnerable people in society, I felt extra vulnerable for a period when pregnant and having had my baby but some people that is every summer, every year. 

I think some sort of air conditioning n buses/public transport is crucial as the extreme heat inside a bus us dangerous to all, including driver. Our buses are not equipped for the heat and they MUST be updated to cope. Global warming will  make summers hotter.  

More free water points. Air con on all trains/buses and tubes. Designated cool areas for those who are homeless etc. more green spaces with shade. Subsidised sun cream for young and vulnerable. 

Very little that had been positive. Perhaps keeping blinds closed during the day helps, especially if out and about. 
Perhaps more homes should have shutters and keep outof the midday sun, if possible. Climate change will mean we have to adopt almost Mediterranean lifestyles.

Free water fountains for refilling bottles should have wider availability and should most definitely be available in underground, overground, dlr and rail stations. WiFi should be free in London like in other cities for people who need help. 

There needs to be a legal limit set and enforced for the maximum (and minimum) temperature for a place of work, education setting, healthcare settings and public buildings. It is inhumane to expect people to work/learn etc in extreme temperatures.

There needs to be more shade enforced by Planning for both residential and commercial areas, including a strong emphasis on natural shade creation (eg tree planting on streets). This also needs to be brought in retrospectively and not just on new applications. The return to having small green spaces (“greens”) with shade-giving trees and bushes in residential areas.

And a return to free drinking water “refill stations” in public areas and enforce that any establishment which serves drinks to the public must give free water to anyone who asks, not just paying customers.

Our local green spaces and especially trees, helped make the heat tolerable,  then and now!

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.