QUICK GUIDE: MANAGING INTERNAL HEAT GAINS

The focus of this article is on solar gain, but it’s worth noting that there are other sources that can lead to overheating in eco homes. These include cooking, lighting and other services, and the occupants themselves.

Warmth from cooking and bathing is normally expelled or recycled (depending on the season) by a good mechanical ventilation and heat recovery (MVHR) system. Meanwhile, the advent of LEDS means lighting now contributes very little to heat gains in new dwellings.

There are, however, still heat gains from many appliances (energy efficient varieties are generally less culpable). Hot water distribution systems are another key area: make sure all the pipework is thoroughly insulated.

Of course, any building can overheat if too much warmth is added by the primary heating system. As long as yours has a working and correctlyset thermostat, this shouldn’t happen. But it’s worth bearing in mind that localised overheating can easily occur in areas where the system isn’t properly controlled or where heat emitters are oversized. Professional design by reputable suppliers should help to avoid these issues.