Summer 2026 is well on its way to setting a new record as the hottest ever in the UK. It’s exposed some serious issues, particularly the fact that the majority of homes are not built to deal with the heat. There is a serious worry about overheating and the impact it will have on health and wellbeing. As a result, it is a key time to look at how to tackle it, such as solar-control glazing. Let’s do that, then you can rely on us if you want some help with residential architecture in London and other areas.
The problem
A vital thing to keep in mind is the majority of homes in the UK were built before overheating was a concern. In fact, for a long time the goal was actually to do all we could to keep heat inside the building to reduce heating costs. Now, when it’s incredibly hot during the summer, it works against us, making homes harder to cool.
Windows play a massive part here. Over 90% of homes have double glazing. Some have triple or even quadruple, all in the name of improving energy efficiency. However, many of these windows actually suffer from high solar gain. That means they allow a large percentage of heat to enter the building. It can be a massive problem during heatwaves.
An alternative
Solar-control glazing can be a really incredible alternative to standard glazing. It allows light to enter, but dramatically reduces how much heat does. In technical terms, it provides a much lower g-value. Speak to us about specifying glass for residential architecture in London and other buildings.
The most important thing to keep in mind here is solar-control glazing is a passive cooling measure. So, unlike air con, window shading, and heat pumps, it doesn’t require any kind of activation or energy. As soon as glass is installed, it will continuously limit how much solar heat enters the property. It’ll do that for the whole lifecycle of the windows.
It’s best to consider high quality solar-control glazing for windows that have the highest sun exposure. This includes south, east, and west elevations. It is fantastic for new builds as well as retrofitting.
If you are planning a new build in England or Wales, you must think about overheating. It is in Part O of the Building Regulations. Therefore, it is a design and compliance issue. Plus, when the Future Homes Standard comes in, it’ll increase requirements for ensuring new homes are more airtight than ever. So, it’ll be even more important to specify the right glazing.
Make the right decisions for residential architecture in London
One of our core focuses at Coffey Architects is to create properties that are full of light. Choosing the right orientation, design (including size and style), and glass is vital. However, it’s crucial to think about all sides here, including solar gain. We’d love to help.
You can rely on us to create your dream home, whether it is a new build or updating your current property. We’re award winners, delivering some of the most amazing residential architecture in London and other areas. So, get in touch today and talk to us about your plans.