Fuel poor social housing as exemplar buildings for low-carbon refurbishments

Group Members: Principal Investigator: David Jenkins (Heriot Watt University), Co-Investigator: Lucie Middlemiss (University of Leeds); Robin Pharoah (ESRO)

Funding body: UKERC

Amount: £11,500

Start Date: 01/09/09

End Date: 01/09/10

Abstract

In this project we aim to strengthen the potential link between fuel poverty and carbon-savings in homes. The research focuses on the social housing sector where we will identify ten case study homes. For each home we will collect data on the carbon impact of the dwelling and the occupants’ energy practices using building modelling tools and qualitative interviews. This work will allow us to better understand the potential for linking fuel-poverty and carbon-saving policy.

The fuel poor are, by definition, living in poverty and are more likely to have frugal energy practices, which they will have developed to cope with rising prices and poor quality homes. Such frugal practices are positive in climate change terms, though are unlikely to be recognised as such by the fuel poor. In in-depth interviews we will identify the current practices of the occupants and their views on energy efficiency and climate change. We will also explore the possibility with occupants that this behaviour could be reframed as low-carbon, rather than fuel poor.