New homes struggle with excessive heat

More than one in six residents of homes built since 2000 report problems with excessive heat, according to a 2025 survey by Bolius and Realdania, reports DR.

In Aalborg, Pernille Klæstrup Hansen and her family are already closing all blinds by morning to keep their 2024 row house from overheating. By 7 a.m. on Friday, indoor temperatures had reached 24.8°C, with outdoor highs above 29°C the previous day.

“Right now, we have cross-ventilation and all doors and windows open. It’s bearable now, but it will become unbearable later,” she told DR’s P1 Morgen.

Steffen Petersen, professor of building and architectural design at Aarhus University, attributes the issue to outdated building regulations based on 2001–2010 weather data from Holbæk Air Station, which do not account for rising temperatures or urban heat islands.

“The problem exists right now. We don’t even need to consider climate change—just look at the current weather,” he said.

Petersen also criticises excessive use of large windows in new builds, which contribute to overheating. He advocates for better design—such as improved shading and natural ventilation—rather than increased reliance on air conditioning.

“In a Danish climate, we can design our way out of these problems—if our politicians and regulations allow it,” he said.

The Klæstrup Hansen family has prepared with a paddling pool, stocked freezers, and plans to seek shade in their garden. Moving is not an option, as most homes in their area are similarly new builds.