Housing energy efficiency transitions

Outcomes will include a robust empirical evidence base on the implications of retrofit for households in energy poverty, and a co-designed policy suite that allows stakeholders to tailor actions that will shape the lives of residents in Australian households. Building on this, the research team will co-develop and document with end users a 10-year strategy to improve both environmental and equity dimensions of retrofit for current and future generations of urban Australians. It will also draw on UK and European context and case studies.

Key publications to date:

• Willand, N., Moore, T. Horne, R., and Robertson, S., (2020), ‘Retrofit Poverty: Socioeconomic Spatial Disparities in Retrofit Subsidies Uptake’, Buildings and Cities, 1(1), pp. 14–35, DOI: https://doi.org/10.5334/bc.13
• Willand, N., Middha, B., and Walker, G., (2021), ‘Using the capability approach to evaluate energy vulnerability policies and initiatives in Victoria, Australia’, Local Environment, 26:9, pp. 1109–1127, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/13549839.2021.1962830
• Middha, B., Robertson, S., Willand, N., and Horne, R., (2022), ‘Man caves, granny flats and alternative living spaces: Low carbon home retrofit and implications for policymaking’, Energy Research & Social Science, Volume 87, May 2022, 102470, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.erss.2021.102470
• Middha, B 2022, Multiple vulnerabilities – Examining the fuel and food poverty nexus, Fuel Poverty Research Network, viewed 9th November 2022, https://www.fuelpovertyresearch.net/projects/multiple-vulnerabilities-examining-the-fuel-and-food-poverty-nexus/.
• Willand, N., Middha, B., Horne, R., and Torabi, N., (2021), ‘We have to talk about energy poverty’, The Fifth Estate, https://thefifthestate.com.au/energy-lead/we-have-to-talk-about-energy-poverty/
• Armstrong, G., Pears, A., Delafoulhouze, M., and Moore, T., (2022), ‘7-star housing is a step towards zero carbon – but there’s much more to do, starting with existing homes’, The Conversation, https://theconversation.com/7-star-housing-is-a-step-towards-zero-carbon-but-theres-much-more-to-do-starting-with-existing-homes-189542
• Isley, C., Baker, E., Daniel, L., and Moore, T., (2022), ‘If you’re renting, chances are your home is cold. With power prices soaring, here’s what you can do to keep warm’, The Conversation, https://theconversation.com/if-youre-renting-chances-are-your-home-is-cold-with-power-prices-soaring-heres-what-you-can-do-to-keep-warm-184472
• Thredgold, C. J., Daniel, L., and Baker, E., (2022), ‘Reducing everyday consumption: Mapping the landscape of grassroots social movements and activist households in Australia’, Energy Research & Social Science, 91: 102741, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.erss.2022.102741