The UK is experiencing its fifth heatwave of the summer, with temperatures expected to reach up to 38°C in some areas. Rare amber "extreme heat" warnings have been issued for 12 counties, including London, the South East, East Midlands, East of England, West Midlands, and South Yorkshire. These warnings are in effect from 9am on Tuesday (August 11) until midnight on Thursday (August 13).
According to the Met Office, temperatures are expected to reach 33°C on Wednesday, rising further to highs of 37°C or 38°C on Thursday. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has also issued amber heat health alerts covering every region in the UK. These alerts, aimed at warning people when extreme temperatures could affect health and wellbeing, are in place from 9am on Tuesday (August 11) until 9pm on Friday (August 14).
Sleeping Difficulties in the Heat
Although the hot weather is perfect for sunbathing or spending time at the beach, it makes sleeping much more difficult. During a heatwave, bedrooms can quickly become stuffy and uncomfortable. Fans often just circulate warm air rather than cooling the room.
Opening windows in the evening can help cool the room, but for some, noise or safety concerns make it difficult to leave them open overnight. Living in the South-East, I've found the heat relentless this summer, making sleep a challenge. Even with a fan blowing directly at me, I'd often wake up sweating.
A Simple Fix with Blackout Blinds
While I plan to invest in air conditioning next year, this summer I had to find creative ways to keep my bedroom cool. I decided to try stick-on blackout blinds with a UV-resistant coating and reflective backing to bounce sunlight away from my windows.
Some people use tinfoil on their windows to block heat and reflect sunlight, but I found this method messy and worried it might damage my double-glazed windows. While blackout blinds are mainly designed to block light, they can also help reduce indoor heat when used properly.
According to Broadview Shading Solutions: "Blackout blinds can reduce solar gain - the process by which sunlight heats up a room - by blocking direct sunlight from entering through the window." They work best when kept closed during the hottest parts of the day.
Cost and Effectiveness
Traditional blackout blinds are also effective, but they can be costly, especially for large or unusually shaped windows. I originally bought the stick-on blinds to block out early morning light, but they've been surprisingly effective at keeping my bedroom cool as well.
They cost just £13.80 on Amazon and come in various sizes. The material can also be cut to fit any window. The blinds attach using sticky-backed velcro placed on the window frames and blinds. The reflective side faces outward to reflect heat away.
In the evening, when it's cooler and the sun isn't as strong, I remove the blinds and open the windows to let fresh air circulate. Before going to bed, I close the windows to keep out noise and reattach the blinds so I'm not woken by early sunlight.
It's important to keep the blinds closed during the hottest parts of the day. The only downside is having a dark bedroom all day, but it's a small price to pay for a cooler night's sleep.
