Re-imagining energy retrofit and home adaptation to deliver safe and resilient homes during interconnected energy, health, housing and climate crises

The Ministry of Defence warns of cascading risks, including flooding and energy insecurity, leading to homelessness and increased civil unrest (MoJ, 2024). Rising temperatures in the UK could lead to an estimated 10,000 additional deaths per year by 2050, with the impacts of heat stress on health services and community resilience remaining poorly understood (UKHSA, 2024; Richmond and Hill, 2023). During the 2022 heatwave, 71% of Nottingham residents reported physical health impacts, and 31% struggled with work (Ogunbode et al., 2023). The Grantham Institute for Climate Change are sharing urgent research questions about trade-offs and synergies for thermal comfort in winter and in summer; what works in housing retrofit to address climate risk? (Bird, Wittke, 2024)

Housing energy retrofits can improve thermal efficiency and reduce energy costs; home adaptation measures like handrails and ramps enhance accessibility; climate adaptation measures can include shutters, shading and green spaces. However, these strategies have not been studied together in research or policy (Simpson & Connelly, forthcoming). At a time of interconnected housing, energy, health, cost-of-living and climate crises, this PhD research aims to re-imagine energy retrofit and home adaptation practices toward climate adaptation.

The proposal is focused on using participatory community-based approaches, alongside review of standards, policies and interventions, for the co creation of an open access resource for the sector. The primary goal of the study is to co-create a climate resilience retrofit toolkit with retrofit providers, home adaptation groups and communities.