The weather is a fundamental topic of conversation in the UK and it’s rare to go a day without hearing about it. Besides the persistent rain and odd pocket of sunshine, ‘extreme’ weather is continuing to drive conversation around the topic of climate change.
Climate change is global concern, but in the UK it is likely to lead to milder winters with increased rainfall and hotter, drier summers. These gradual changes will likely be accompanied by a rise in extreme weather events, such as floods, droughts and heatwaves, that will have severe impacts on society.
Why does this matter to residential construction?
More extreme weather in the UK is likely to have a resounding impact on the construction industry. In recent years, flooding has been a common and alarming sight on news channels, with the wettest February on record occurring in 2020. This rainfall led to thousands of homes being flooded and many more left without power. Extreme weather events like this not only impede construction projects, but also cause significant and lasting damage to vulnerable properties around the country.
At the opposite end of the spectrum, British homes are typically not designed for high temperatures in the summer months. With hotter and more regular heatwaves, residential construction will have to adapt to accommodate these extremes. However, finding the balance between preparing for both extremes is a tough challenge.
How might the industry adapt?
The threat of flooding in the UK is only going to increase, as we have witnessed in the past few years. To combat this, residential buildings may need more substantial and permanent flood defences to protect structural integrity. Furthermore, more rainfall and increasingly energy efficient properties could result in issues with condensation. Consequently, building materials and methods may have to adapt – for example, breathable roof membranes will be essential to allow moisture to escape.
An increased risk of heatwaves and droughts may demand development of existing water and utility infrastructures. More energy efficient homes will be needed to reduce water consumption in order to protect water resources. Much like in hotter parts of the world, air conditioning may become a more common sight in UK homes as heatwaves become more prevalent. One opportunity that is already increasing in demand is solar energy, which will become more important over time as summers become more extreme.
What is the timescale?
These environmental changes are likely to occur gradually over the next century, but planning and implementing changes as early as possible will be essential to avoid catastrophe in the face of more regular extreme weather events. Residential construction, in particular, has an important part to play to protect people’s livelihoods over the coming decades.