Warm homes: Drivers of the demand for heating in the residential sector in New Zealand

Improving health and energy efficiency through community-based housing interventions

“…There are structural solutions to being cold and three of the four trials directly address the energy inefficiency of the housing stock, one of the main contributors to fuel poverty (Howden-Chapman et al 2009). Overall, structural solutions are more effective than individual action and are likely to reduce socio-economic inequalities in the determinants of health (Graham 2007).…”

“…Daily diaries kept by the parents of their children's asthma showed reduced lower respiratory symptoms (p = 0.01), less coughing at night (p = 0.003) and reliever use in the morning (p = 0.05). Independent school records showed the children in the intervention group had 1.8 days less of school during the 50 days of the winter term (CI 0.11-3.13; p = 0.04) (Free et al 2009); fewer visits to general practitioners (0.13, CI 0.05-0.20, p = 0.005); and to pharmacists (0.06, CI 0.03-0.07, p = 0.007). There was no difference in lung function between the intervention and control group, although the difference in FEV 1 was significant after controlling for NO 2 levels in the home.…”

Measuring multiple impacts of low-carbon energy options in a green economy context

“…Health benefits, reduced outlay on subsidies, and reduced air pollution Clinch and Healy [48] Retrofitting energy-efficiency technologies and heating upgrades in the Irish residential building stock 1. 7 Health benefits (mortality and morbidity), comfort benefits, and emissions reductions (CO2, SO2, NOX, PM10) Chapman et al [26] Retrofitting residential buildings with insulation in lowincome communities in New Zealand…”

“…Different financing package assumptions all had different results on the employment impact, to a non-negligible order of magnitude. Level of energy savings or comfort benefits/rebound effect Take back in comfort (increased indoor temperatures and share of space heated) and/or lower utility bills [26,74] are influenced by income levels, thermal comfort conditions before retrofits and the level of intervention -easy versus deep retrofits [48]. Number of traffic-related injuries and deaths due to modal shift in passenger transport to low(er) carbon intensity modes Baseline level of modal split in the studied locality and the "safety in numbers" effect [75][76][77]; differences between short-term and longterm risks and effects [78], general transport/city infrastructure, local traffic, vehicle operation and transport safety regulations [76,78]; existence of pedestrian and cycling-friendly infrastructure [79], age of a person switching the transportation mode [80], cultural and behavioural norms in relation to cycling [77].…”

The effects of home heating on asthma: evidence from New Zealand

“…Howden-Chapman et al (2009) report that many NZ houses are colder and damper indoors than recommended by the World Health Organization.…”