Green Homes, Healthy Lives

Exploring how sustainable, climate-resilient homes can support health, wellbeing, and environmental justice.

About this theme

The climate crisis is reshaping how we think about homes, health, and communities. Energy efficiency, retrofitting, and climate resilience are not only environmental priorities — they are essential for protecting people’s health and ensuring housing systems remain fair, sustainable, and future-proof.
Through this theme, the Healthy Housing Initiative investigates how greener homes can reduce health inequalities, cut energy costs, and create safer, more resilient places to live. We provide evidence to guide policy and practice, ensuring that climate action in housing delivers benefits for the people who need it most..

Our Work

We partner with local authorities, housing providers, public health teams, and community organisations to understand how sustainable housing solutions can improve lives.
Our research examines:
1) the health impacts of retrofitting and energy upgrades
2) how to reduce risks from overheating, damp, and mould
3) economic and environmental benefits of sustainable design
4) barriers to adopting green technologies
5) the role of policy in supporting a fair, inclusive transition
Our findings help inform investment strategies and support climate-ready housing systems

Energy Efficiency & Retrofitting

Assessing the health and economic impacts of insulation, heating upgrades, ventilation improvements, and whole-home retrofits.

Climate Resilience & Adaptation

Examining how homes and neighbourhoods can prepare for extreme weather, flooding, overheating, and other climate-related risks.

Fuel Poverty & Health Equity

Understanding how energy insecurity affects physical and mental health — and how sustainable interventions can reduce inequalities..

Sustainable Housing Design

Exploring low-carbon materials, passive design, and accessible green technologies to support healthier and more resilient homes.

Policy Pathways for a Just Transition

Mapping cross-sector policy challenges and identifying solutions that ensure climate action benefits vulnerable and low-income households.

Our Projects

Publications & Reports

Latest Insights & Updates

Work With Us

We collaborate with partners across housing, health, energy, and climate policy to:

  • evaluate retrofit and sustainability programmes
  • design and test climate resilience interventions
  • assess health, economic, and environmental impacts
  • support policy development for a low-carbon future
  • develop practical guidance for providers and local authorities

To discuss collaborations on this theme, contact:
healthy-housing@hud.ac.uk