A debate in r/UKPreppers on Reddit acknowledged that, as summers in the United Kingdom get hotter, simple window coverings are beginning to look like a practical resilience tool.
Here's what to know
In a post on Reddit, the original poster titled their post, "Blackout curtains need to become the norm in [UK]."
They wrote, "This is helpful for preppers, but also without electricity the summers are going to worsen as we already know and experienced this year."
A major theme in the replies was that interior curtains may not be the most effective first step.
One commenter argued, "Blackout curtains pale in comparison to the shutters you see in mainland Europe, the ones that physically go on the outside of the window. These are the real revolution we need on that front."
"With BO curtains, all that heat has already made it into your house and is currently superheating your windows. Only shutters external to the window can stop that," another person agreed.
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Other commenters emphasized cost and indoor layering.
"We have blackout inset blinds that are thermal too," a commenter recommended. "For summer you should also get reflective window film to keep the heat out so the radiant heat doesn't even make it through the glass."
More background
DIY options were part of the conversation too.
"Plenty of make your own from recycled wood DIY vids available," one person mentioned. "Some places in the UK have strange rules on external shutters. Something that needs sorting because it's the way to go."
Regardless of their point of view, many people recognized that these ideas are pretty low-cost.
What can be done?
Some other practical suggestions were especially DIY-friendly. One commenter described, "An easier-to-obtain alternative is some kind of awning over the window to shade it from direct sunlight. I'm growing a wisteria in the front of my house for this very reason."
If exterior additions are not possible, layering indoor measures, as someone mentioned above, could still be helpful.
Of course, all of this would come at the expense of natural light, so for most households considering blackout curtains or shutters, it would be a matter of striking the right balance. You want to keep the cooler temperatures in and keep the heat out, but that doesn't mean you have to board up every window of the house either.
Where can I learn more?
If you're indeed able to block heat before it gets indoors, that can make a big difference.
• In Amsterdam, residents hang curtains outside during heat waves as homes built for cold weather struggle.
• Across the U.K., shaded homes stay cooler as closed windows cut indoor heat.
• Homeowners are using solar shades to cut glare, indoor heat, and cooling costs.
• Developers are looking to ancient cooling methods as hotter summers reshape building design.
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