This blog post may be vaguely off-topic, but, given my professional background, I feel I need to say something about the ridiculous heatwaves endured in the UK so far this year.
I write this sitting in my air-conditioned study, as temperatures rocket past 30°C once again before midday. I feel fortunate, but not guilty, for owning air conditioning – to be clear, it’s a portable unit bought in the run-up to the July 2022 heatwave, when the UK recorded 40°C for the first time.
I paid ~£330 for my A/C, money very well spent in my opinion. I’ve used it about 45 times since, and have slept for the past two nights with it on throughout.
To address the argument that air-conditioning just contributes further to global warming by increasing electricity consumption, I raise two points. 1) The UK’s grid is decarbonising at a rapid pace, with record solar and wind capacity added most years. 2) How else do you realistically stay cool? I’m simply not interested in enduring endless sleepless nights and incurring the resulting lack of productivity that follows during the days.
A side note: did you know that poor sleep in the UK due to heatwaves has been linked to a not-insignificant loss of GDP? Yet another reason to increase A/C rollout in this country (and I’m seeing more and more units on private households – both portable units like mine, and permanent, full-fat installations for the entire house). One day, I will get whole-house A/C installed, but for now the portable unit will do.
Late May heatwave
Between 22nd – 28th May, a severe heatwave built across the country, ultimately resulting in the UK’s highest ever May temperature record being broken on two consecutive days, and the UK’s highest overnight minimum May temperature also being broken over three consecutive nights.
To add some context, the previous UK May record was 32.8°C, set in 1922 and 1944. Exceeding the previous record by more than 2°C is completely bonkers. And breaking records over two to three consecutive days is also crazy. A temperature of 35°C in the UK is regarded as extreme heat – a threshold only reserved for the upper echelon of heatwaves – and to record it in May, in spring, is almost inconceivable.
Fortunately, I was away in Scotland during this heatwave, where it was a much more pleasant 24°C.
June 2026 heatwave
The heatwave we’re currently enduring is evolving into one of the most significant heatwaves ever recorded in the UK. Primarily because, as well as breaking records, it is also long-duration. (The heatwave which gave 40°C in the UK in July 2022 only lasted three days.) This time, it looks like temperatures will be over 30°C somewhere for at last six days, with five of those days in the 32-36°C range.
Luckily, the heat really isn’t that widespread across the country, primarily affecting central and southern England and Wales. Still, this is the most populated part of the country.
Yesterday, June 24th, a temp of 36.1°C was recorded in Hampshire, derailing the previous record of 35.6°C, set in (the famously hot summer of) 1976 and also in 1957. A new UK overnight high minimum temperature record for June of 23.5°C was also set in Cardiff (beating the previous record of 22.7°C, also set in 1976).
As far as I’m aware, breaking UK monthly high temperature records two months running has never happened before. And it’s not like we’re done with this heatwave. Today, June 25th, and tomorrow could be even hotter.
These heatwaves represent the most visceral and extreme symptom of what Slow Down and Save is really all about. By avoiding consumerism, you can build wealth and reduce stress on resources and energy consumption. I always encourage you to think long-term about your finances – and the same is true for your impact on the environment. We have to think long-term about our actions; how will the planet look in two or three generations time?
There is a lot of crossover between the actions required to be financially successful and to choose to live a more sustainable lifestyle. These heatwaves are a reminder that we need to keep working – and spreading the word – about both.
Thank you for reading. Here are some other posts you may enjoy:
- Why £200k is investing’s magic number
- How to get rich as an employee
- How to get a 440% return on being fit
- The 4% Rule – how to know when to retire
- Why Cryptocurrencies are not an Investment
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