Thesis Title:
How Do Retrofitting Practices Transform the Lives and Environmental Conditions of Racialised and Socioeconomically Disadvantaged Communities?
Thesis Abstract:
Exposure to polluted air is responsible for tens of thousands of premature deaths in the UK each year. While the home is often regarded as a refuge from such risks, indoor air quality, shaped by both the material characteristics of domestic spaces and the everyday practices of its inhabitants, can simultaneously function as a form of harm. Despite this, studies have predominantly concentrated on the risks associated with outdoor air pollution, leaving the dynamics of indoor exposure comparatively neglected.
Further, the UK’s commitment to achieving Net Zero by 2050 places housing retrofits at the centre of its decarbonisation strategy. These interventions aim to enhance the energy-efficiency of homes, ensuring they are warm in winter, affordable to heat, and resilient to climate change. However, while retrofitting is often presented as a positive measure, there is limited empirical evidence on its downstream effects on indoor environmental quality and residents’ lived experiences. In some cases, these interventions can lead to unintended consequences such as increased damp, mould or overheating. This issue is especially urgent for communities already burdened by structural inequalities and greater exposure to environmental health risks, underscoring the equity challenges embedded in current climate adaptation strategies.
Considering this, grounded in a framework that prioritises meaningful community participation, this study combines qualitative methods to collaboratively explore how racialised and socioeconomically disadvantaged households perceive and are affected by retrofit practices. In doing so, it aims to inform the development of future housing solutions that are both sustainable and equitable.
Primary Supervisor:
Dr Diana Varaden