How UK's supermarket fridge crisis will cost you money as heatwave sparks chaos

How UK's supermarket fridge crisis will cost you money as heatwave sparks chaos EXCLUSIVE: Supermarket fridges struggling in the heat could be an early warning of a much bigger problem, with experts saying households will ultimately foot the bill as the UK must adapt to a hotter future Supermarket shoppers have been greeted with empty shelves and broken fridges this week - and experts warn the situation is only going to get worse. The June heatwave has seen temperatures reach highs of 36.9C, with health alerts issues across large parts of England, thousands of school closures and trains coming to a halt. Away from the discomfort and inconvenience the heat brings, experts warn the impact of rising temperatures could soon be felt in our wallets. From hiked supermarket food prices and household bills to costly upgrades to homes and public buildings, the financial consequences of climate change are no longer a problem for future generations - they're arriving now. Sustainability expert Andrew Hulbert says the UK's recent run of extreme weather should be a wake-up call. "People think climate change is something that's coming in 50 years' time, but it's not - it's today," he says. "We've had record-breaking hot days this June, and fundamentally the UK's cooling infrastructure simply wasn't designed to work in temperatures above 30C." That has already become evident inside many supermarkets, where refrigeration systems have struggled to cope during periods of extreme heat. "When temperatures get too high, cooling systems can't operate properly," Andrew explains. "It's the same for supermarket fridge freezers. They're designed for the climate we've had over the last 20 or 30 years - not the one we're moving into." Shoppers have already noticed empty chilled shelves and refrigeration units switched off during recent hot spells, something Andrew believes should be seen as a warning rather than an inconvenience. "If supermarkets are struggling to keep food chilled now, that's a huge red flag for what's coming." The issue, he says, isn't simply replacing broken fridges. Many commercial refrigeration systems rely on outdoor condensers, which become significantly less efficient during extreme heat. If temperatures above 35C become more common, businesses across the country could be forced to replace entire cooling systems with equipment capable of coping with hotter conditions. And those upgrades won't come cheap. "The reality is, if we're consistently going to have temperatures above 35C, we'll have to upgrade cooling systems across the country," he says. "That comes with a cost." Ultimately, Andrew believes consumers will shoulder much of the financial burden. "It's not as if supermarkets are making huge profits. As infrastructure and energy costs continue to rise, some of those costs have to be passed on to the consumer. That's just business." It's a challenge extending far beyond retailers. Schools, care homes and hospitals are also increasingly vulnerable to rising temperatures. Andrew points to his own children's school, where pupils have been allowed to wear PE kits during the hot weather but classrooms still lack air conditioning. "I share a great concern about the longevity of schools, care homes and hospitals," he says. "In places like blood donation centres, rooms have to stay at around 19C. Some hospitals are thinking ahead, but they'll all be affected." Unlike countries such as the UAE, where buildings and infrastructure have long been designed to withstand extreme heat, Britain is playing catch-up. "We'll have to move closer to the kinds of systems used in places like Dubai," Andrew explains. "They've invested because they've always known they'd be dealing with those temperatures. We haven't." However, replicating that level of resilience across the UK would require enormous investment. "There are around 220 million dwellings across Europe," he says. "There's simply not enough money on Earth to fix that overnight." Despite the scale of the challenge, Andrew believes delaying action will only make the eventual costs even higher. "If you've got an air conditioning system that's 20 years old and we have a 35C day, it could fail completely. Then you've got the immediate cost of replacing it." For businesses considering whether to invest in more resilient equipment now, his advice is simple. "My advice would be to invest. The weather is only going to become more extreme - both hotter summers and colder winters." Yet despite mounting evidence that Britain's climate is changing faster than many expected, Andrew says there remains little financial support to help organisations or households prepare. "I'd love to see a Government support scheme," he says. "But I'm sceptical." Much of the political conversation, he argues, remains centred on long-term net zero targets rather than adapting infrastructure for today's climate. "Everyone keeps talking about Net Zero 2050, but Net Zero isn't going to stop 35C days in June. We need to start talking seriously about adapting the country for the climate we're already living in." To keep your fridge freezer summer ready, follow these key steps: - Check the temperature settings and make sure it's set between 3C and 5C and your freezer at -18C - Don't overload it with food that could restrict airflow - Keep the door closed - Clean the condensor coils - Defrost if necessary - Keep it away from heat sources [Image text:] 3.30 $1.65 2.50 3.20