Written by Graham Paul – Service Delivery Director
With over twenty years of experience in the energy sector, Graham leads service delivery, sales and marketing to enhance customer experience and scale TEAM’s carbon and energy services with a data‑driven, outcomes focus.
In previous briefings, we have explored workplace temperature limits and the increasing demand for air conditioning alongside the importance of TM44 compliance. Recent research now highlights another consequence of extreme heat: its impact on productivity and the wider economy.
UK Heatwave Costs Economy More Than £1 Billion
According to research from the London School of Economics (LSE) and the Euro-Mediterranean Center on Climate Change (CMCC), the UK’s record-breaking June heatwave resulted in approximately 24 million lost working hours, costing the economy an estimated £1.15 billion.
The study found that workers lost an average of 0.47 hours during the week of 22 June, while around 3.6% of respondents – equivalent to approximately 1.25 million workers – reported not working at all because of the heat.
While sectors such as construction and agriculture experienced the biggest impacts due to the physically demanding nature of their work, the effects of extreme temperatures were felt across a broad range of industries.
The Impact on Businesses
When discussing heatwaves, many organisations focus on employee comfort and wellbeing. However, extreme temperatures can also create significant operational and financial challenges, including:
- Reduced employee productivity
- Increased absenteeism
- Disrupted transport and commuting
- Higher cooling and energy costs
- Increased pressure on building infrastructure
- Greater risk of equipment and system failures.
The LSE research also found that 87% of respondents experienced at least one heat-related health impact, including tiredness, disrupted sleep, dizziness, fainting, or an increased heart rate.
For employers, this can translate into lower productivity, reduced concentration, and increased health and safety risks.
Is Your Building Prepared for Higher Temperatures?
As climate change continues to increase the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, organisations should consider whether their buildings are equipped to maintain safe and productive working environments. Scientists have warned that heatwaves are becoming more common, while England recorded its warmest June on record this year.
Many premises across the UK were not originally designed to cope with prolonged periods of high temperatures. As a result, cooling systems can come under significant strain during heatwaves, increasing both energy consumption and operational costs.
This makes it increasingly important for organisations to understand:
- How efficiently their air conditioning systems are operating
- Whether cooling equipment is appropriately sized and maintained
- How energy consumption changes during periods of extreme heat
- Opportunities to improve building performance and reduce wasted energy.
Balancing Cooling Demand With Energy Efficiency
As organisations respond to rising temperatures, there is a clear need to balance occupant comfort with energy performance.
Air conditioning can help maintain productivity and workplace comfort, but inefficient systems can increase operational costs and carbon emissions. Regular maintenance, energy monitoring, and compliance activities can help organisations ensure cooling systems operate as efficiently as possible.
TM44 air conditioning inspections provide an opportunity to assess system performance, identify energy-saving opportunities, and ensure equipment is operating effectively. Combined with robust energy monitoring and targeting practices, organisations can gain greater visibility into the impact of extreme weather on energy consumption and operational performance.
What This Means for Organisations
The latest heatwave research demonstrates that rising temperatures are no longer solely an environmental concern; they are becoming a measurable business risk.
Organisations that proactively review their buildings, cooling systems, and energy management strategies are likely to be better positioned to maintain employee productivity during heatwaves, reduce unnecessary energy costs, improve occupant comfort and wellbeing, enhance resilience against future climate-related disruptions, and support wider net zero and sustainability objectives.
With hotter summers expected to become more common, adapting buildings and energy strategies now could help organisations avoid both operational disruption and rising costs in the years ahead.
For more information about air conditioning inspection, access our easy to understand TM44 Air Conditioning Inspection Checklist.
To read the rest of our heatwave and its impact series, you can view them here:
UK Heatwave Drives 320% Surge in Air Conditioning Demand | TEAM
UK Climate Adviser Calls for Workplace Temperature Limits | TM44 Compliance