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In the face of the UK’s hottest summer on record, marked by five intense heatwaves, many people continue to struggle with keeping their homes cool without relying on air conditioning. This challenge is especially pressing considering that over half of UK homes are currently at risk of overheating, a figure predicted to rise dramatically to 92% by 2050 unless significant adaptations are made. However, a 1960s ex-council house in south London offers an inspiring example of how a well-adapted home can remain comfortably cool on a 35°C day without using air conditioning.
Marion Baeli, an architect and homeowner, has spent over a decade retrofitting her house to cope with rising temperatures anticipated in future UK summers, which could reach up to 40°C. She likens her home to a well-insulated flask: “You wouldn’t put holes in your flask if you wanted to keep the ice in. You’d close the cap and make sure it is firmly twisted on. It’s the same in this house.” During a visit from the BBC on one of this summer’s hottest days, Baeli’s house was recorded to be 10°C cooler inside than the outside temperature. She attributes this to the house being renovated to Passivhaus standards, an international building design methodology created around 35 years ago in Germany, which focuses on maintaining a constant indoor temperature through airtight construction and high insulation. Passivhaus homes typically consume up to 90% less energy than conventional houses.
The Baeli family began their retrofitting journey ten years ago, tackling major renovations in stages to manage costs. Initially, they improved the insulation of shared walls, floors, and roofs, and addressed “thermal bridges”—areas that allow rapid heat transfer. Two years later, the project included replacing some cavity brick walls with super-insulated timber-framed walls and installing triple-glazed windows to minimize heat gain. After making the house airtight, they installed a specialized ventilation system to maintain fresh air circulation. Thanks to these changes, the house uses significantly less energy for heating and cooling; now, only one radiator is needed to warm the entire home in winter, and energy demand has dropped by an estimated 88%, saving roughly £750 annually on bills.
Despite the clear benefits of Passivhaus retrofits, the cost remains a considerable barrier. Baeli estimates her renovations cost around £80,000, with windows alone accounting for £30,000 and the airtightness measures costing approximately £5,000. To make the process manageable, she spread the work over ten years rather than undertaking it all at once. Beyond construction, Baeli emphasizes the importance of
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