Energy vulnerability denotes the risk of harm due to limited access to essential energy in the home. Poor thermal performance of dwellings in combination and low income are key determinants of energy vulnerability. Energy retrofits, which may include the improvement of the dwelling’s thermal envelope and an upgrade of heating/cooling appliances may reduce the risk of harm and improve health.
This project will evaluate the health and wellbeing outcomes of large-scale social housing retrofit programs in Victoria which include the replacement of old wood, electric or gas fired heaters with new energy-efficient systems, draughtproofing and new or upgraded cooling systems. Taking a pragmatic approach to evaluate ‘what works’, the project will investigate the cause-effect mechanisms as well as the contextual influences to explain the nature and direction of intervention outcomes. The project will integrate health, social and building science-based investigations and involve concurrent quantitative and qualitative research components for the purpose of complementarity. Hence, the project will seek to provide a better understanding of the effects of these housing retrofits on engineering-based outcomes (e.g. energy consumption, greenhouse gas emissions reduction and indoor air quality), health outcomes (e.g. mental health, cardiovascular and respiratory diseases and injury) and the social constructions of essential domestic energy services such as heating and cooling.
The project is part of the NHMRC Healthy Environments And Lives (HEAL) Network, which will provide national and international leadership in environmental change and health.
