How to Keep Your Business Cool During a Heatwave
- Sophie Wragg
- May 26
- 3 min read
Heatwaves are here to stay — becoming more frequent, more intense, and arriving earlier in the year. As I write this, it’s 32°C outside. In spring. In the UK. It feels too hot to think straight, and unsurprisingly, people are asking how to keep their workplaces cooler.
Our climate is changing, and higher temperatures are becoming part of our new normal. We’re already seeing calls for places with vulnerable people such as schools, care homes and hospitals to install air conditioning to protect staff, patients and pupils. But cooling isn’t just a public sector issue. Every business, from high street shops to offices and warehouses, needs to think about how to stay safe, productive and comfortable during extreme heat.
The good news is that there are plenty of practical, affordable steps you can take — many of which don’t involve running energy hungry air conditioning all day.
Start With Shade: Your First Line of Defence
Install awnings. Victorian high streets had the right idea. Awnings are both pretty and practical, shading your shopfront and reducing heat gain through large windows. Modern versions are durable, retractable and can cut indoor temperatures significantly.
Architectural shading. Offices, schools and public buildings can benefit from brise soleil, overhangs, fins or external shutters. These block high summer sun while still allowing daylight in — a smart long term investment for new builds or refurbishments.
Plant trees and shrubs. Nature is one of the best cooling systems we have. Trees shade walls and windows, reduce surrounding air temperatures and prevent heat from radiating back into your building. Unlike concrete or tarmac, plants don’t store heat — they actively cool the air through evapotranspiration.
Cool the Building Envelope
Paint roofs white. A reflective roof can reduce heat absorption dramatically. It’s a simple retrofit for many buildings and can make a noticeable difference on upper floors.
Use blinds or reflective window film. Internal blinds help, but reflective film is even better at bouncing heat back outside. It’s affordable, quick to install and ideal for south facing windows.
Green roofs. A layer of vegetation insulates your building, absorbs heat and reduces the urban heat island effect. They also support biodiversity and improve rainwater management.
Green walls. Vertical planting cools the air, shades walls and creates a more pleasant environment for staff and customers.
Use Smart Behaviour and Smart Tech
Keep windows closed when it’s hotter outside. It feels counterintuitive, but if the external temperature is higher than indoors, opening windows just lets the heat in. Ventilate early morning and late evening instead.
Use smart thermostats with existing air conditioning. If you already have air conditioning, smart controls can optimise when it runs, avoid unnecessary cooling and reduce energy bills.
Consider air-to-air heat pumps. If you’re replacing your heating system, heat pumps can both heat and cool your workspace. Pairing them with solar panels helps offset running costs and reduces your carbon footprint.
Rethink How and Where Work Happens
Hybrid working isn’t just about flexibility; it can also reduce heat stress for your team. If your business can, letting staff work from home on the hottest days cuts the number of people in the building and makes it easier to keep indoor spaces comfortable. It also means some people can avoid commuting in extreme heat, which is often one of the most uncomfortable parts of the day. Buses and trains can be stifling, walking or cycling in high temperatures increases the risk of dehydration and fatigue, and cars left in sun exposed car parks quickly become overheated before the air conditioning has a chance to work. By offering hybrid working during heatwaves, you support staff wellbeing, protect productivity and ease the pressure on your building’s cooling.
Why This Matters for Every Business
Keeping your workplace cool isn’t just about comfort. It’s about:
• protecting staff health
• maintaining productivity
• reducing heat related downtime
• preventing equipment from overheating
• supporting vulnerable customers or service users
• adapting to a climate that is already changing
Heatwaves will continue to challenge the way we design, operate and manage buildings. The sooner businesses start planning, the easier it will be to stay resilient.
If this has sparked ideas about how to keep your workplace cooler, I’m always happy to chat through what might work for your space.
About the Author
Sophie Wragg is a sustainability consultant, ISO 14001 Lead Auditor, and author of Sustainable Business. She has supported more than 200 SMEs through the East Midlands Chamber and helped secure over £500k in decarbonisation funding. Sophie spoke at the Big Zero Show 2024 and was named Best New Business at the Mansfield & Ashfield Business Network Awards 2025. She brings clarity, calm, and practical guidance to organisations who want to make meaningful, achievable progress.
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