Can energy efficiency improvements make a home less healthy?

Can energy efficiency improvements make a home less healthy?


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A university is probing whether retro-fitting homes to make them more energy efficient may reduce the amount of fresh air being circulated indoors, putting people with existing health issues at risk.

The three year study – costing £680,000 – involves collaboration between Newcastle University, the city’s council, and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.

It’s already collected data on 30 single-story terraced homes in the city which are due to have energy efficiency improvement works carried out. The study will go on to look at a further 60 homes.

The air quality both inside and around the houses will be carefully measured before building works begin, and again up to 12 months after building works have been completed, to analyse any changes.

Professor Jane Entwistle, iInterim pro-vice-chancellor for the faculty of engineering and environment at Northumbria University, is leading the study and explains: “Air pollution is one of the main causes of ill health and early death worldwide. Our homes need fresh air to be healthy and comfortable, however, retrofitting older buildings to make them more energy efficient can reduce ventilation which impacts on the amount of fresh air available indoors.

“We want to find out how making social housing more energy efficient affects both the indoor air quality and the health and wellbeing of those living there.”

By evaluating the changes resulting from the retrofitting works the study team hopes to be able to assess the impact of net zero household energy interventions. From there it can shape advice for councils and residents.

A council spokesperson adds: “Our Net Zero vision is to see Newcastle not be a net contributor to climate change by 2030. We have been working across the city to establish a partnership-based approach drawing in other public sector organisations, businesses, residents and stakeholders to set out a collective understanding of our emission profiles, the scale of the decarbonisation challenge and an action-based path to a Net Zero future.

“This research project will enable us to better understand the home environment and the needs of our residents, helping us to continue to refine and improve the measures installed to ensure that our residents gain the greatest benefits from the retrofit works.”

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