New climate projections suggest UK buildings will face more frequent and prolonged periods of hot weather, increasing pressure on employers, building owners and facilities managers to maintain comfortable and productive indoor environments.
This issue is particularly timely. The UK has already recorded two heatwaves in 2026, with temperatures reaching record highs in both May and June1, prompting many organisations to ask whether their cooling systems are up to the job.
According to the Climate Change Committee’s recent A Well-Adapted UK2 report, the UK was built for a climate that no longer exists, with extreme heat identified as one of the most significant risks facing people, buildings and infrastructure over the coming decades.
The report warns that temperatures above 40°C are expected to occur across the UK by 2050, while periods of hot weather are set to become longer and more frequent.
With overheating a pressing concern across the UK, Grundfos is highlighting the importance of how heating and cooling systems are controlled and managed throughout a building.
For many commercial buildings, temperature-related challenges are not necessarily caused by insufficient heating or cooling capacity. Instead, systems are often operating in buildings that have changed significantly since they were first installed.
Buildings rarely operate in the same way they did when their systems were first installed. Improved control helps create flexible, responsive systems that support both comfort and energy efficiency as periods of warmer weather become more common.
Glynn Williams, Senior Area Sales Director for UK & Ireland, Grundfos Commercial Building Services.
“Many commercial buildings experience temperature differences from one area to another throughout the day,” says Glynn Williams, Senior Area Sales Director, UK & Ireland, Grundfos Commercial Building Services.
“One meeting room may feel too warm, while another area feels too cold, even though the overall system is operating as intended. As buildings evolve and occupancy patterns change, systems that once worked well can struggle to deliver consistent temperatures across different spaces.”
According to Grundfos, addressing these challenges does not always require additional heating or cooling capacity. In many cases, improvements can be achieved through better control of existing systems.
“Temperature control is often viewed as a heating or cooling issue, but in reality, it is frequently a distribution and control challenge,” Williams explains.
“When temperatures become uncomfortable, the solution is not always to increase heating or cooling capacity. Often, the bigger opportunity lies in improving how heat and cooling are distributed and controlled throughout the building.”
Solutions such as intelligent mixing loops and variable-speed pumping systems can continuously adapt to changing demand, helping balance flow and temperature across different zones of a building. This can support more stable indoor conditions while reducing unnecessary energy consumption.
“Many are surprised by how much impact improved temperature control can have. It can help create a more comfortable indoor environment while reducing energy use, and it provides a system that can adapt as buildings change over time,” says Williams.
As warmer conditions and changing building demands place greater pressure on indoor environments, Grundfos recommends building owners should regularly assess whether their heating and cooling systems remain aligned with current operational requirements.
“Buildings rarely operate in the same way they did when their systems were first installed. Improved control helps create flexible, responsive systems that support both comfort and energy efficiency as periods of warmer weather become more common,” Williams concludes.
Need more information?
Mads Klougart Jakobsen
Press officer for Denmark and Europe
Mobile phone: (+45) 5234 2899
E-mail: mjakobsen@grundfos.com
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