Experts at the Universities of Birmingham and Edinburgh are leading a major research project aiming to accelerate the creation of healthy, net zero homes across the UK where everyone enjoys clean air and comfort indoors.
Homes contribute about 14% of carbon footprint in the UK. Meeting the Government’s legally binding Net Zero target by 2050 makes it essential to retrofit the country’s 29 million homes.
Achieving this target requires an estimated £250-500 billion investment by 2050 and presents an opportunity to address population health and inequalities.
Working with experts from eight other universities and UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), researchers and our stakeholders ‘Indoor HABItability during the Transition to Net Zero Housing Hub’ (INHABIT) will develop ways to realise the health co-benefits of house retrofitting, by improving indoor air quality and reducing mould and damp.
Retrofitting our homes will significantly change indoor environments, potentially bringing health benefits by making homes warmer during the winter and providing protection against harmful outdoor air pollutants. But, if not done properly, such modifications can trap indoor generated air pollutants and moisture, worsening air quality and causing issues including damp and mould – affecting society’s most vulnerable, such as older people and those with pre-existing conditions like asthma.
Backed by £7.3 million of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) funding, the five-year INHABIT Hub brings together local, regional, and national authorities, housing associations, businesses, and research organisations to reduce negative effects from indoor environments during the transition to Net Zero housing with practical, scalable solutions.
The award is part of a £42 million joint NIHR and UKRI investment in game-changing research hubs designed to accelerate the UK’s journey to net zero. The hubs are focused around five challenge areas that will benefit people’s health and reduce impact on the environment:
- Transport and the built environment
- The indoor environment
- Sustainable diets
- Extreme weather
- Decarbonising health and social care pathways
Professor Zongbo Shi, from the University of Birmingham, commented: “Retrofitting our homes will significantly change indoor environments, potentially bringing health benefits by making homes warmer during the winter and providing protection against harmful outdoor air pollutants. But, if not done properly, such modifications can trap indoor generated air pollutants and moisture, worsening air quality and causing issues including damp and mould – affecting society’s most vulnerable, such as older people and those with pre-existing conditions like asthma.”
The INHABIT Hub is not just about theoretical research but will also create practical, real-world application s – leveraging significant investments from national, regional, and local initiatives in decarbonising the housing sector, such as ‘Net Zero Neighbourhoods’.
Professor Ruth Doherty, from the University of Edinburgh, commented: “Retrofitting offers an unprecedented opportunity to improve people’s lives, but our current lack of scientific knowledge of interventions hampers our ability to capitalise on this potential. We need to better understand how retrofitting impacts the indoor environment and people’s health in real-world scenarios.”
The INHABIT Hub aims to create healthier indoor environments, lower healthcare costs, reduce energy bills, and improve social equity – helping to create a transition to Net Zero that is environmentally sustainable and socially inclusive.
Health Minister Baroness Gillian Merron said: “This £42 million investment into net zero research hubs will bring together world-class researchers to boost public health and tackle inequalities. Through our Plan for Change, we will make the UK a clean energy superpower while improving health outcomes for everyone.”
Professor Lucy Chappell, Chief Scientific Adviser at the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and Chief Executive Officer of the NIHR said: “Climate change is a major threat to public health, both now and for future generations. These high-impact research hubs will contribute to protecting people’s health against the impact of climate change, realising the health benefits of a net zero transition and reducing health inequalities.”
Transdisciplinary experts that span health and social sciences, the built and natural environment with partners within the Hub will pioneer improvements in indoor environments and health during the Net Zero transition. They will analyse how retrofits impact indoor environments, health, and inequalities through integrated measurements and modelling to create the best solutions.
