What is ClimaCare?

ClimaCare is a research initiative addressing the challenge of adapting UK care settings to climate change. The project brings together an interdisciplinary team of architects, engineers and research scientists to develop a better understanding of the factors that contribute to summertime overheating in care homes and the subsequent negative health impacts.

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What has ClimaCare found?

  • The pilot study, conducted over the summer of 2019, found high indoor temperatures throughout all five case study care homes.

  • Overheating was prevalent, regardless of the metric used to define overheating.

  • There was a marked difference between how carers and residents perceived the heat: carers found conditions at times unbearably hot, residents were comfortable even at temperatures above 30 degrees Celsius.

  • Modelling found various passive measures could help to alleviate the overheating, the most effective being night time ventilation.