SUSTAINABILITY
ventilated openings in window designs, which would allow more air exchange. It would also be a good idea to encourage occupants to not open windows when the outside temperature is higher than the internal one. It would also be advisable to encourage windows to be opened at night to purge the heat. For older buildings, where refurbishment might be beneficial, adding insulation to the building to improve its thermal performance will help to reduce heat gains, and lower the overheating risk.
Nature-based solutions In all buildings, using materials that absorb then expel heat, known as exposed thermal mass, help regulate indoor temperatures. Another passive strategy to reduce overheating risk is to use solar shading, either as external shading features, or by using interstitial blinds in the window system. Nature-based solutions can also help reduce overheating risks. Green roofs and green landscaping around healthcare buildings help to reduce surface temperatures. Views of nature also have wellbeing co-benefits and have been shown to help recovery times for hospital patients. We recommend passive design measures first because
they have no operational carbon emissions, and can be incorporated into new designs and refurbishment programmes with relative ease. These measures should be chosen where they will work best, based on location and other design factors such as building orientation and proximity to adjacent buildings. However, healthcare buildings, particularly hospitals and clinics, are very controlled environments. They have many regulations that ensure hygienic environments with clean air. However with this, conflict arises between different design performance
Left: Window opening restrictors can be a cause of overheating because they restrict natural ventilation.
Below: Blinds and shutters can help with cooling.
metrics and aspirations, including: n Building regulations: clean, controlled
environment, that requires large volumes of mechanical ventilation and filtration systems, to provide healthy and safe environment for patients.
n Reduction in operational energy and carbon: NHS Net Zero Carbon – in order to prevent further degradation of the environment and accelerating global warming, the energy, and associated carbon emissions, required to run healthcare buildings must be drastically reduced. This will, in many cases, require reduction in cooling demand and operating on lower air flow rates.
n Prevention of building overheating and ensuring patient comfort.
October 2025 Health Estate Journal 63
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