A Study of Architectural Measures to Reduce Overheating

This report identified different historic architectural measures used in England and in British colonial architecture abroad. It investigated how passive architectural measures, such as awnings or shutters, have been used in the past to reduce solar gain and seasonal overheating.

The different measures are supporting Historic England in identifying appropriate adaptation options to our changing climate.

As temperatures increase, there is a growing risk of overheating occurring in buildings. This could lead to thermal discomfort, health implications for building occupants due to thermal stress, and increased energy usage due to a rising demand for cooling to counter the overheating.

In addition to identifying what measures were used historically, this project also sought to identify the different risks, regulations and limitations that might need to be considered when contemplating their integration into an existing historic building.

The matrix at the end of the report hopes to support in deciding what architectural measure might be most appropriate for individual buildings, when considering other variables.