Key facts
- Homeowners are increasingly seeking solutions to combat extreme heat in their homes due to supercharged UK heatwaves.
- Innovative shading methods range from temporary fixes like yoghurt on windows to permanent installations such as brise-soleil and shade sails.
- Brise Soleil UK, founded by Marc Alabaster, specializes in brise-soleil systems for homeowners.
- Shaded offers renter-friendly, internally installed window awnings designed by Aimée Daniels.
- Kemp Sails, a yacht sail manufacturer, has successfully diversified into producing outdoor shade sails.
- External window shading can reduce internal temperatures by up to 6C, according to research.
- The discussion around shading has shifted from aesthetics to compliance, resilience, and public health.
As the UK grapples with increasingly severe heatwaves, homeowners are exploring a range of solutions to shade their properties, moving beyond temporary fixes to more permanent and sophisticated installations. Graphic designer Marc Alabaster, inspired by a trip to Spain, founded Brise Soleil UK after discovering the effectiveness of brise-soleil systems, which are now being adopted by homeowners seeking to cool their residences.
The climate crisis has prompted a surge in demand for effective shading. While some resort to temporary measures like attaching cardboard or smearing yoghurt on windows, more durable options are gaining traction. Brise Soleil UK offers external shading solutions, particularly for large windows and glass doors. Aimée Daniels, founder of Shaded, developed a renter-friendly, internally installed window shade that clips onto frames, aiming for affordability at £89.
Traditional companies are also seeing increased business. Kemp Sails, a yacht sail manufacturer, has successfully diversified into producing robust shade sails using specialized fabrics and stitching techniques, though these can be costly, running into several thousand pounds. Caribbean Blinds reported a significant increase in inquiries and orders for solar blinds, awnings, and pergolas during a recent heatwave.
Research from Loughborough University, including trials funded by the British Blind & Shutter Association (BBSA), indicates that external shading can be significantly more effective than internal shading, reducing internal temperatures by up to 6C. Chartered engineer Tom Greenhill promotes low-cost solutions and emphasizes the need for cultural adaptation to the changing climate, stating that the UK can no longer be considered a mild and damp nation.
Mina Hasman of RIBA’s Climate Expert Advisory Group notes a significant shift in how shading is perceived, moving from a matter of aesthetics to one of compliance, resilience, and public health. New regulations in England now address overheating in new residential buildings, but owners of older properties must adapt their homes themselves.