4 months Ago
Heat Protection Issues Increase Throughout the Netherlands
One fifth of Dutch adults feel that is the case, reads the survey, a figure that rises to as much as 35 percent in the Netherlands if one uses the definition of 'no safety from summer heat' as no way to protect against temperatures of 25°C and above. In Zuid-Holland, 41 percent even see the rise of these scooters as a worrisome development. In Drenthe, on the other hand, just 29 percent of people worry about it, making them the most carefree region.
More Dutch homes are getting uncomfortably warm as climate change sends temperatures upwards. Andy van den Dobbelsteen, a professor of Climate and Sustainability at Delft University of Technology, suggests smaller-scale strategies, like adding an awning or planting trees or other greenery to act as natural shade. He also recommends changing ventilation habits — keeping windows open at night rather than during the day, which is common in warmer countries.
Call for Climate-Smart Construction
Even though climate-resilient building practices are getting more attention, many new housing projects remain lacking. It has to cool down at night." Van den Dobbelsteen also pointed out that newly built areas typically don't have established green vegetation, which is necessary for cooling. Trees removed during construction are generally replaced, but new trees can take 15 to 20 years to fully mature and provide meaningful shade. He pushes for keeping the existing trees in construction plans, but this complicates the situation for developers and builders.
Another problem is that homes are still being designed with outdated climate data, frequently from 15 years ago or more. "I never realised the importance of designing houses for the future climate like I do now," van den Dobbelsteen said. "If we are to build a house now, it will be a house that will stand for 50 or even 100 years. "We need to construct as if it were already 2050," he added (referring to KNMI statistics).
The poll, taken from July 2-7, collected responses from 19,210 Dutch adults who were asked if they felt their homes were adequately prepared for heat during a summer day.
