Summary of the impact

The UK has some of the highest levels of fuel poverty worldwide, with Northern Ireland being worst affected (Liddell, 2012). As a psychologist, Professor Liddell has helped transform the issue of fuel poverty from one concerned with housing to one that focuses on human impacts. Her research led to a greater focus on infants and children living in fuel poverty, a group hitherto largely excluded from the literature. She was also the first to analyse the mental health benefits of tackling fuel poverty, which are now integral to the rationale of all the UK's regional fuel poverty strategies. Finally, new methods for targeting resources to those in most need have been implemented as a direct result of her research on area-based tools.

Summary of the impact

Fuel poverty is a serious social problem. Research within the Unit has changed official understanding and measurement of fuel poverty. High quality work within the Unit examining poverty measurement, specific issues around fuel poverty, impacts of energy efficiency measures for housing, and of the distributional effects of energy price increases, resulted in the Government inviting Professor Hills, in 2011, to lead a review of how fuel poverty is measured. His March 2012 report recommended a new `low income high costs' framework as the indicator for fuel poverty. In September 2012, the Government's consultation paper proposed that this be adopted for future official statistics. The Government confirmed this decision in July 2013 and published a Framework for Future Action on the problem, based on the review's analysis.

Summary of the impact

A 2008 `options appraisal' by the Mackintosh Environmental Architecture Research Unit (MEARU) for Cube Housing Association (CHA) impacted directly on practice apropos eliminating `fuel poverty' (energy cost >10% disposable income) and complying with the Scottish Housing Quality Standard (SHQS) — this achieved by a major combined heat and power (CHP) installation linked to thermal upgrading (complete 2012). This tangible impact for CHA in turn helps Scotland to achieve its CO₂ reduction targets alongside improved public health. The initial research work by MEARU for CHA followed many years of work with energy efficiency and environmental quality in housing (2 below).

Summary of the impact

Research conducted by Davies et al within the UCL Bartlett's Complex Built Environment Systems (CBES) group on built environment choices and their implications — particularly for energy use and health — has contributed to a fundamental shift in global understanding of the possible health impacts of carbon mitigation measures, and has informed key policy formulation relating to this. At regional and national levels, research by CBES has informed London's Climate Change Adaptation Strategy, and led to changes in the Building Regulations for England and Wales, and produced a tool used by the UK Department of Energy and Climate Change to inform aspects of its Energy Efficiency Strategy. The international impacts of CBES arise both from its broad influence on policy-makers' awareness and understanding of the implications of energy efficiency policies, and from more specific contributions to the development of World Health Organisation guidance.

Summary of the impact

A development of six Creative Energy Homes (CEH) on the University of Nottingham campus provides a living test-site for leading firms, including E.ON, David Wilson Homes, BASF, Tarmac, Roger Bullivant and Igloo Blueprint to work with the University of Nottingham to investigate the integration of energy efficient technologies into houses. As a result of this work, Lovell homes has won a number of sustainable housing contracts, Roger Bullivant have developed and installed 30 SystemFirst™ foundation systems and Igloo Blueprint have built £7M worth of new homes. The research findings have informed the UK Government's "Green Deal" strategy, the Nottingham Community Climate Change Strategy and received widespread acclaim through a number of public engagement activities reaching out to over 5 million people.

Summary of the impact

Research conducted by Professor Short in the use of natural ventilation and passive cooling in non-domestic buildings is altering policies and plans in the refurbishment of existing healthcare buildings and in new-build for acute and primary care, both within and outside the UK. Moreover, the massive demolition and replacement of healthcare building stock, presumed to be required to simultaneously adapt to the increased ambient temperatures due to climate change and mitigate carbon emissions through improved energy efficiency, has been shown to be unnecessary.

Summary of the impact

Research at Loughborough University during the period 2008-2013 in the areas of control, commissioning and design of advanced naturally-ventilated buildings has led to:

• Improvements in ventilation performance in an award-winning building in the USA;
• Confirmation of the performance of a globally applicable low-energy building design strategy; and
• Increased confidence in US design teams to produce naturally ventilated buildings.

A subsequent KTP project with SE Controls has led to:

• A new product range for a UK controls company;
• Increased turnover;
• Expanded capacity to exploit research for innovation; and
• Stimulated growth of its new product development team.

Summary of the impact

This case study presents the impact of the Health and Temperature Research Group (HTRG) at Sheffield Hallam University, led by Professor Tod. The group generates novel, collaborative, translational, interdisciplinary (e.g. health, housing and environment, energy and welfare) research with a focus on cold related ill health. The research impact is illustrated here by The Keeping Warm in Later Life Project (KWILLT). KWILLT findings provide a unique understanding of the complex environment and multiple factors influencing older people keeping warm and well in winter. Beneficiaries include NHS, local and national policy makers, and practice organisations.