For sweltering Britons, rising energy prices could spark a shutter boom
Shares in window specialists have outperformed the broader market in the past month
For UK homeowners, the news that energy bills are to reach a three-year high is an uncomfortable reminder of the running costs of staying cool. More autumnal temperatures are providing some relief — and space to consider how best to mitigate next summer’s heat.
Sweaty European households are choosing air conditioning despite its costs and climate impact, YouGov pollsters said last week. Britons, however, face a different calculus: while 38C days are no longer impossible, anything above 30C is still a rarity over the course of the year. So while searches for air-conditioned homes have doubled this summer according to property portal Rightmove, more than half of those surveyed said they would instead consider adding shading such as window shutters or awnings.
There are various ways — shutters, for example — to stop the sun’s heat getting through that, for the UK, make more sense. As for the size of the market, a back-of-the-energy-bill calculation suggests about 15mn homes might be in need of adjustment. That assumes demand is focused on the southern half of England plus Wales, as the regions that sweltered most, and excluding the one-fifth of properties that are owned by landlords, who presumably will feel less urgency to act.
As for the cost of staying comfortable when the mercury rises, a 2022 report by building consultants Arup estimated £11,000 per home — call that £13,000 now given inflation — for a package of shutters, ceiling fans and roof insulation. Arup assumed work would be done steadily, but the five heatwaves of 2026 may have changed things somewhat. A 2025 government case study estimated £6,000 for external shutters; upgrading windows would add £20,000.
One unexpected effect of high temperatures is the potential impact on high-end homes, some of which are limited in their ability to adapt. Grosvenor Group, owner of swaths of London’s swankiest streets, last week called for easier planning rules to install double glazing and air conditioning in heritage buildings. The suffering of Mayfair’s wealthy residents aside, housing developments also limit owners’ ability to alter house facades for several years.
Still, shares in the likes of window specialists Deceuninck and Eurocell have both outperformed the broader market in the past month. So have those of builders’ merchant Travis Perkins, which flagged weather-related demand in earnings in August. Those who invested wisely can perhaps reinvest their portfolio gains into refitting their homes, lest 2027 be just as infernal.