'Architects should look at climate change impacts'

Ricky Mahy says overheating homes can have a detrimental impact on the health of householders

A Guernsey architect says house designers should consider the impact of climate change on the temperature of homes despite there being no rules in place in the bailiwick.

Guernsey saw its its second hottest summer ever in 2025, while Jersey's was fourth in its records.

Ricky Mahy, from Create Architecture, said homes that overheated in the summer would have an impact on their residents' mental health.

Jersey Met forecaster Jon Searson said record-breaking summers would become "the norm".

Architects in the UK are obliged to follow rules and good practice procedures from building regulations, which includes impacts of overheating, but Mr Mahy said no such guidelines existed in Guernsey.

He said: "All architects should be following this. We want to make buildings comfortable to live in.

"If you don't make buildings comfortable to live in, then you can suffer physiological and psychological effects with your mental health and wellbeing."

Chris De Mouilpied owns an air-conditioning business which he said had seen demand from homeowners "skyrocket".

He said while heatwaves had been common, the fact temperatures were not going down at night was behind increased demand.

He said: "I guess in today's age people think about their mental health, and sleep impacts that.

"After a week of not being able to sleep, and perhaps being grumpy the next day, people then inquire.

"Some people are just like: 'Please get it done no matter what it takes.'"

Governing bodies are now beginning to recommend architects advise their clients to install air conditioning because of climate change, according to Mr De Mouilpied.

Chris De Mouilpied says he is getting more domestic customers over the past three years

Jon Searson, from Jersey Met, said data was consistent with what was expected with climate change.

He said: "It's only when you look at these temperature profiles and when these record-breaking years were... the top 10 are all within the past 15 years.

"Every single year we are doing warmer than we used to, so it is the norm that we will be sitting close to the top of the records."