How this 1960s ex-council house is managing to stay cool without air con
Summary
A 1960s house in south London stays cool without air conditioning by using a special building method called Passivhaus. This design keeps the house airtight and well insulated, greatly reducing energy use and maintaining a steady indoor temperature even on hot days.Key Facts
- Many UK homes risk overheating due to climate change, with projections that 92% could be affected by 2050.
- Marion Baeli’s home in south London stays about 10°C cooler than outside on hot days without using air conditioning.
- Passivhaus is a building standard from Germany designed to keep homes at stable temperatures by sealing them against heat and cold.
- Houses built or retrofitted to Passivhaus standards use up to 90% less energy than typical homes.
- Baeli spent around £80,000 over ten years upgrading her home, including installing triple-glazed windows and improving insulation.
- The house now uses one radiator in winter and saves about £750 a year in energy costs.
- The retrofit process included removing drafty windows, insulating walls and floors, and installing ventilation to keep air fresh while airtight.
- Retrofitting to Passivhaus standards is costly, so Baeli spread out the work over a decade to manage expenses.
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