Poland grapples with record heat wave, pushes for building upgrades and cooling measures

Poland experienced a record‑breaking heat wave, with temperatures reaching 40.5 °C in Słubice and over 40 °C in other locations. Experts warn that the country's 20th‑century infrastructure – rail tracks, power grids, telecommunications and urban buildings – is not designed for such extremes and risks buckling, overloads and outages.

To mitigate the heat, specialists recommend passive‑cooling solutions: external shutters, façade louvers, shade‑producing greenery, robust roof insulation and low‑emissivity window films. VELUX Poland promotes external roller blinds that can lower indoor temperatures by up to 6 °C, while misapplied thermal foil on windows can cause glass breakage and safety hazards.

Forecasts indicate that high temperatures will return later in July, with north‑western regions expected to receive warm air masses that could push daytime highs above 30 °C again. Authorities stress the need for rapid adaptation of buildings and critical infrastructure to avoid costly damages and health impacts.