Could your energy efficient house make you sick?
With rising gas and electricity bills, many UK households are enhancing energy efficiency by adding insulation and sealing windows and doors. The government and energy sector encourages this too.
However, these changes may inadvertently affect ventilation, raising concerns about indoor air quality and health, particularly for those with lung conditions such as asthma and bronchitis.
A team led by Northumbria University is investigating the health implications of retrofitting homes to improve energy efficiency.
Supported by a £680,000 grant from the National Institute for Health and Care Research, the three-year In2Air study will examine how these upgrades affect indoor air quality and residents’ wellbeing.
The study involves collaboration with Newcastle City Council, Newcastle University and the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine.
Initial data from 30 single-storey terraced homes in Newcastle will expand to 60 homes, air quality measurements will be taken before and after retrofitting, to evaluate changes.
Professor Jane Entwistle, leading the study said: “Retrofitting can reduce ventilation, affecting fresh air availability. We aim to understand how energy-efficient upgrades in social housing impact indoor air quality and resident health.”
The findings will guide councils and residents in improving both energy efficiency and indoor air health.
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