To ensure better and more inclusive health outcomes, the TCPA has identified 12 Healthy Homes Principles that all new housing developments must provide. Each month, this blog series explores one of the principles
Healthy Homes Principle: Reduction in carbon emissions for all homes
In the UK, people spend most of their time indoors. Energy use in homes has a significant impact, not only on carbon emissions – homes account for 14% of the UK’s total carbon emissions (TCPA, 2024) – but also on health and the cost of living.
In the UK, nearly 10 million people live in poorly insulated homes.
Poor insulation in buildings contributes to fuel poverty, leaving one-third of households unable to maintain comfortable living conditions. Currently, 6 million households in the UK are estimated to be in fuel poverty, and nearly 10 million live in poorly insulated homes (Medac, 2024).
As the UK government intends to achieve a 100% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 relative to 1990 levels, addressing the energy efficiency of residential buildings has become crucial. With climate change pressures, the Climate Change Committee (2019) and the Sixth Carbon Budget (2020) proposed that all new residential buildings should be zero-carbon ready from 2025 onwards.
One Brighton apartments (photo credit: Andy Hall, Bioregional)
A public health crisis
But with rising living costs, the shift to sustainable, cost-effective home energy solutions is increasingly urgent not only for reducing emissions but also for protecting public health. Overall, up to 22.3 million homes do not have the adequate level of insulation to ensure energy efficiency (TCPA, 2024), with over half of adults worried about heating their homes during the winter (ONS, 2023).
Every year more than 25,000 people die from living in cold temperatures in their homes.
These numbers constitute a public health crisis, as every year more than 25,000 people die from living in cold temperatures in their homes. Up to 10-30% of excess winter deaths can be attributed to fuel poverty, and 21.5% to cold homes (Medac, 2024).
The UK’s energy and housing policies have largely contributed to this crisis – one that the NHS is forced to confront – with around £2.5 billion annually spent on treating illnesses directly linked to cold and damp housing (Medac, 2024). Since 2021, energy prices have doubled, and with UK homes among the worst-insulated in Europe, losing heat three times faster than those in Northern Europe, families are struggling to keep up with rising energy bills.
The impacts of fuel poverty on health are severe and wide-ranging. Living in cold homes, particularly those with poor ventilation, can exacerbate cardiovascular issues, worsen respiratory conditions, and impact mental health. For instance, cardiovascular risks, like increased blood pressure and higher cholesterol levels, are intensified in homes that cannot maintain a minimum of 18°C. In terms of respiratory health, dampness and mould from poor ventilation degrade indoor air quality, causing or worsening asthma, coughs, and respiratory infections (Medac, 2024).
In 2019, fuel poverty among ethnic minorities in England was 52% higher than white households, a disparity that has continued to grow.
This burden falls most heavily on low-income households, racial minorities, elderly, and disabled individuals, who are not only more likely to live in fuel-poor homes, but also to bear a disproportionate share of the health consequences. For example, in 2019, fuel poverty among ethnic minorities in England was 52% higher than white households, a disparity that has continued to grow (S. Bouzarovski, et al., 2022). Without improvements in housing insulation, energy efficiency, and affordable energy access, the UK’s most vulnerable populations will continue to face heightened health risks, deepening cycles of poor health and economic inequality.
The case of Permitted Development homes
The UK’s Building Regulations Approved Documents L set energy efficiency standards for new homes and significant renovations, with the Future Homes Standard aiming to reduce carbon emissions from new builds by 75–80% starting in 2025. However, organisations like the UK Green Building Council and the Chartered Institute for Housing argue that these targets fall short of the net zero requirements needed to address national commitments on climate change, emphasising that new developments should aim for full net zero performance (TCPA, 2024).
Policies in the NPPF and guidance in the National Design Guide and National Model Design Code promote sustainable, energy-efficient design, but they are not mandatory.
Policies in the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) and guidance in the National Design Guide and National Model Design Code promote sustainable, energy-efficient design, but they are not mandatory, and do not apply to homes built through permitted development rights (PDR) conversion.
Over 100,000 residential conversions have been produced through PDR since 2013, which bypass the full planning process and rely solely on Building Regulations for energy efficiency. Conversions under these standards often use poorer insulation and gas or electric heating, resulting in 84–180% higher energy costs and 100–148% more annual CO₂ emissions than new builds. Overheating standards also do not currently apply to these conversions, raising additional concerns for residents’ comfort and safety (TCPA, 2024).
What can be done?
Energy efficiency improvements and targets towards net zero have the potential to enhance physical health and boost mental wellbeing. In fuel-poor homes, better heating and thermal insulation bring crucial health benefits.
But, achieving energy efficiency in airtight buildings without proper mechanical ventilation can trap indoor pollutants and moisture, negatively impacting indoor air quality. Health risks, such as respiratory irritation and mould growth, have been associated with energy retrofits that focus on insulation without ventilation upgrades. Installing mechanical ventilation systems helps mitigate these issues, ensuring that energy-efficient homes remain healthy and comfortable for occupants (Wang, Wang, and Norbäck, 2022).
The government must address outdated building regulations, inadequate standards for emissions and efficiency, and inconsistent policy that fails to prioritise or mandate net zero targets.
However, a number of barriers to implementing net zero housing have been identified, including: gaps in policy and regulation for delivering net zero carbon homes; lack of skills and capacity along the supply chain which is likely to reduce construction quality; and constraints in energy infrastructure (Cambridge Centre for Housing and Planning Research, 2022).
Indeed, the push for net zero homes is challenged by national policies, such as the 13 December 2023 Written Ministerial Statement, that restrict local authorities from requiring energy efficiency and carbon reduction standards for new homes beyond national guidelines. Local councils, therefore, struggle to enforce ambitious commitments to reduce carbon emissions in new developments, in trying to align local aspirations with weaker national policies. To achieve truly net zero new buildings, government must address outdated building regulations, inadequate standards for emissions and efficiency, and inconsistent policy that fails to prioritise or mandate net zero targets.
Best practice examples
Nevertheless, there are some successful examples of low carbon emissions housing which include: the One Brighton development, with highly insulated and triple glazed buildings powered by 100% renewable energy. One Brighton has successfully reduced up to 89% of operational carbon emissions compared to the UK’s existing housing stock (Bioregional, sustainability consultancy).
Another ambitious example is the UK’s first zero carbon housing delivery programme in the city of York, with 600 new homes adopting certified Passivhaus standards and Net Zero in-use requirements. The housing design manual also indicates they will adopt a ‘fabric first approach by developing all to new build housing to certified PassivHaus standards’, along with installing appropriate renewable systems to achieve zero carbon homes and help minimise bills for residents.
Zero carbon housing delivery programme (Photo credit: City of York Council/Mikhail Riches)
Ensuring all new homes secure radical reductions in carbon emissions is one of the 12 holistic principles of the Campaign for Healthy Homes. You and your organisation can show your support for these principles by signing up to the Healthy Homes Pledge.
