British people are „trapped in homes they can’t cool” and are forced to resort to extreme measures to cope with the heatwave, a study shows.
One in six Britons are taking „drastic measures” to deal with the heatwaves. This means sleeping in the kitchen or, if they are lucky, in the garden or on the balcony, according to a study conducted by the Citizens Advice organization, as reported by The Independent.
These measures also include sick leaves or unpaid leaves or accommodation in hotels.
The extreme heatwaves this summer have put lives at risk, triggered wildfires, and imposed restrictions on the use of garden hoses for millions of people.
July, with temperatures exceeding 34°C, was the driest month ever recorded in England and Wales, confirmed by the Met Office.
Rain, showers, and a drop in atmospheric pressure could bring some relief soon in August. After a new temperature peak recorded this week, the forecast indicates a cooling trend, with maximum temperatures of only 22°C on Thursday in London and 17°C in Glasgow.
However, for now, millions of people in the UK are "trapped in homes they can't cool," with almost half of them (44%) feeling powerless against overheating in their homes, as warned by the mentioned organization.
Another four million people have resorted to makeshift solutions, such as sticking aluminum foil, cardboard, or wet sheets on windows.
The study attributes this problem to poorly designed homes acting as "heat traps" and the high cost of air conditioning units.
The study showed that half (51%) of renters – including those in the private sector and social housing – felt they lacked the basic control needed to prevent overheating in their homes, compared to 40% of homeowners.
Additionally, the research revealed that 90,000 consumers connected to district heating networks were unable to stop centralized heating even after summer began.
Citizens Advice calls for government intervention in the face of a crisis that manifests throughout the year, characterized by "extreme heat in summer and unaffordable energy bills in winter."
"For far too many people, a summer heatwave doesn't mean enjoying the sun but being stuck in a stifling home with no control over the temperature. We are now facing a constant crisis, where poorly designed housing acts as a huge heat trap in summer and a freezer in winter," said Dame Clare Moriarty, the Chief Executive of Citizens Advice.
"The government has a vital opportunity to address this situation through the Warm Homes Plan. By investing in better insulation, ventilation, and upgrading heating networks, we can ensure warmer homes in winter and safer and cooler homes in summer," she added.
T.D.