This project looks at the impact of buildings’ energy efficiency, energy demand and internal temperatures on health and wellbeing.
Health & energy efficiency
There is growing evidence that energy efficiency can improve health. In recognizing this impact, the UK Government’s main model for evaluating domestic energy efficiency incorporates a health impact assessment to allow policy makers to evaluate the health cost benefit of different energy efficiency technologies. In many cases, health savings are greater than fuel savings. However, the model needs to be grounded in more robust empirical evidence, the UK is uniquely placed to do this as it has world-leading databases of health, temperature, energy use and energy efficiency interventions, which if linked can develop our understanding of the relationship between temperature, energy demand, energy performance, and health, particularly among vulnerable and fuel poor households.
What we are asking
- What is the impact of building energy efficiency, energy demand and temperatures on health (physical and mental) and wellbeing?
- What health and wellbeing metrics have direct causal links to energy efficiency?
- What are the potential deleterious effects of isothermal temperatures on humans?
- What is the impact of cold homes on physical and mental health?
- What are the health implications of improving lower EPC band housing?
Banner photo credit: Moja Msanii on Unsplash