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Helping you build on our knowledge of climate change

MET OFFICE News Release issued by COI News Distribution Service on 24 April 2009

Climate change will have a dramatic effect on the way we build houses in the future. At Grand Designs Live, London the Met Office will show you why new houses must be designed to reduce their carbon footprint.

The houses we build today will need to be ready for the challenges of climate change, such as extreme summer heat, increased risk of damaging storms and the a risk of summer and winter flooding.

Visitors can present a forecast with a difference from the Met Office TV studio, situated in the Grand Village. The forecast will show just how much climate change will affect the UK's weather in the future due to our actions today. Met Office climate scientists will also be there to advise on what changes we can make to adapt and mitigate for climate change.

Mark McCarthy, Urban Climate specialist said "We are already committed to some warming here in the UK so it's very important to start building new homes with climate change in mind. We need to design homes that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions to combat global warming, and that are future-proofed to be comfortable places to live both now and in the future."

The houses at Grand Designs will help show you what you can do to prepare for climate change such as:

* Building an elevated house on stilts to minimise the risk of flooding

* Using natural heat and light through the seasons to control the temperature of your home to cope with extreme summer heat

* Use materials and technologies to minimise the carbon impact of your home and help limit further climate change.

ENDS

For further information contact Met Office Press Office 01392 886655 or email pressoffice@metoffice.gov.uk Notes:

* The Met Office is the UK's National Weather Service, providing 24x7 world-renowned scientific excellence in weather, climate and environmental forecasts and severe weather warnings for the protection of life and property.

* The Met Office Hadley Centre is the UK's foremost centre for climate change research. Partly funded by Defra (the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) and the Ministry of Defence.