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Retrofitting houses with insulation to reduce health inequalities: Aims and methods of a clustered, randomised community-based trial

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  • Howden-Chapman, P.
  • Crane, J.
  • Matheson, A.
  • Viggers, H.
  • Cunningham, M.
  • Blakely, T.
  • O'Dea, D.
  • Cunningham, C.
  • Woodward, A.
  • Saville-Smith, K.
  • Baker, M.
  • Waipara, N.

Abstract

This paper describes the purpose and methods of a single-blinded, clustered and randomised trial of the health impacts of insulating existing houses. The key research question was whether this intervention increased the indoor temperature and lowered the relative humidity, energy consumption and mould growth in the houses, as well as improved the health and well-being of the occupants and thereby lowered their utilisation of health care. Households in which at least one person had symptoms of respiratory disease were recruited from seven predominantly low-income communities in New Zealand. These households were then randomised within communities to receive retrofitted insulation either during or after the study. Measures at baseline (2001) and follow-up (2002) included subjective measures of health, comfort and well-being and objective measures of house condition, temperature, relative humidity, mould (speciation and mass), endotoxin, beta glucans, house dust mite allergens, general practitioner and hospital visits, and energy or fuel usage. All measurements referred to the three coldest winter months, June, July and August. From the 1352 households that were initially recruited, baseline information was obtained from 1310 households and 4413 people. At follow-up, 3312 people and 1110 households remained, an 84% household retention rate and a 75% individual retention rate. Final outcome results will be reported in a subsequent paper. The study showed that large trials of complex environmental interventions can be conducted in a robust manner with high participation rates. Critical success factors are effective community involvement and an intervention that is valued by the participants.

Suggested Citation

  • Howden-Chapman, P. & Crane, J. & Matheson, A. & Viggers, H. & Cunningham, M. & Blakely, T. & O'Dea, D. & Cunningham, C. & Woodward, A. & Saville-Smith, K. & Baker, M. & Waipara, N., 2005. "Retrofitting houses with insulation to reduce health inequalities: Aims and methods of a clustered, randomised community-based trial," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 61(12), pages 2600-2610, December.
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:socmed:v:61:y:2005:i:12:p:2600-2610
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    Cited by:

    1. Arthur Grimes, Nicholas Preval, Chris Young, Richard Arnold, Tim Denne, Philippa Howden-Chapman, and Lucy Telfar-Barnard, 2016. "Does Retrofitted Insulation Reduce Household Energy Use? Theory and Practice," The Energy Journal, International Association for Energy Economics, vol. 0(Number 4).
    2. Howden-Chapman, Philippa & Viggers, Helen & Chapman, Ralph & O'Dea, Des & Free, Sarah & O'Sullivan, Kimberley, 2009. "Warm homes: Drivers of the demand for heating in the residential sector in New Zealand," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 37(9), pages 3387-3399, September.
    3. Heinen, Steve & Turner, William & Cradden, Lucy & McDermott, Frank & O'Malley, Mark, 2017. "Electrification of residential space heating considering coincidental weather events and building thermal inertia: A system-wide planning analysis," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 127(C), pages 136-154.
    4. Arthur, Grimes & Tim, Denne & Philippa, Howden-Chapman & Richard, Arnold & Lucy, Telfar-Barnard & Nicholas, Preval & Chris, Young, 2012. "Cost benefit analysis of the Warm Up New Zealand: Heat Smart programme," MPRA Paper 99919, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    5. Philippa Howden-Chapman & Julian Crane & Ralph Chapman & Geoff Fougere, 2011. "Improving health and energy efficiency through community-based housing interventions," International Journal of Public Health, Springer;Swiss School of Public Health (SSPH+), vol. 56(6), pages 583-588, December.
    6. Anna Ziersch & Moira Walsh & Clemence Due & Emily Duivesteyn, 2017. "Exploring the Relationship between Housing and Health for Refugees and Asylum Seekers in South Australia: A Qualitative Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(9), pages 1-20, September.
    7. Kerr, Niall & Gouldson, Andy & Barrett, John, 2017. "The rationale for energy efficiency policy: Assessing the recognition of the multiple benefits of energy efficiency retrofit policy," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 106(C), pages 212-221.
    8. Howden-Chapman, Philippa & Viggers, Helen & Chapman, Ralph & O’Sullivan, Kimberley & Telfar Barnard, Lucy & Lloyd, Bob, 2012. "Tackling cold housing and fuel poverty in New Zealand: A review of policies, research, and health impacts," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 49(C), pages 134-142.
    9. Willand, Nicola & Horne, Ralph, 2018. "“They are grinding us into the ground” – The lived experience of (in)energy justice amongst low-income older households," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 226(C), pages 61-70.
    10. Kahouli, Sondès, 2020. "An economic approach to the study of the relationship between housing hazards and health: The case of residential fuel poverty in France," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 85(C).
    11. Galvin, Ray, 2024. "Reducing poverty in the UK to mitigate energy poverty by the 10% and LIHC indicators: What tax changes are needed, and what are the consequences for CO2 emissions?," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 217(C).
    12. Zeyen, Elisabeth & Hagenmeyer, Veit & Brown, Tom, 2021. "Mitigating heat demand peaks in buildings in a highly renewable European energy system," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 231(C).
    13. Judith Wright & Nazeem Muhajarine, 2008. "Respiratory illness in Saskatoon infants: The impact of housing and neighbourhood characteristics," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 85(1), pages 81-95, January.
    14. Becchio, Cristina & Bottero, Marta Carla & Corgnati, Stefano Paolo & Dell’Anna, Federico, 2018. "Decision making for sustainable urban energy planning: an integrated evaluation framework of alternative solutions for a NZED (Net Zero-Energy District) in Turin," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 78(C), pages 803-817.
    15. Ralph Chapman & Nicholas Preval & Philippa Howden-Chapman, 2017. "How Economic Analysis Can Contribute to Understanding the Links between Housing and Health," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(9), pages 1-12, August.

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