INHABIT Hub: Paving the Way for Healthier, Net Zero Homes in the UK

The UK faces the challenge of retrofitting its 29 million homes to reduce carbon emissions and meet its legally binding net zero target by 2050.

Retrofitting involves upgrading buildings to improve energy efficiency, such as installing insulation and replacing windows. While these upgrades are essential for environmental goals, without proper planning, retrofitting could trap moisture and pollutants, affecting air quality and health. The Indoor HABItability during the Transition to Net Zero Housing Hub (INHABIT), led by the University of Birmingham, is addressing these challenges as part of a £7.3 million research grant.

Oxford Brookes University, a key collaborator, is leading research into the links between energy efficiency, air quality, and public health. Professor Rajat Gupta from Oxford Brookes explains: “Retrofitting homes offers significant benefits, but we must address the risks to indoor air quality, especially for vulnerable groups like the elderly and those with respiratory conditions.”

A holistic approach to retrofitting

The INHABIT Hub is backed by £7.3 million of UKRI and NIHR funding, enabling it to bring together researchers from multiple institutions and key partners to drive forward research that aligns with the UK’s commitment to reaching net zero by 2050. INHABIT aims to provide scientific evidence and policy solutions to ensure the UK’s housing transition to net zero is done with health in mind. The project takes a systems approach, bringing together experts from diverse fields to understand how retrofits affect the indoor environment, health, and social inequalities. One of the key objectives is to develop models and tools that assess the health impacts—both positive and negative—of different retrofit strategies.

Professor Gupta explains: “We’re not just looking at the technical aspects of retrofitting; we’re considering how these changes interact with people’s behaviours, socio-economic conditions, and regulatory frameworks. Understanding this complexity will help create more effective solutions and reduce inequalities.”

Collaboration for real-world impact

Collaboration is central to the INHABIT Hub. The project works with 14 local authorities, 4 housing associations, 3 businesses, and 11 organisations. Through workshops and meetings, contributing partners shape research priorities and provide input on retrofit needs, ensuring that solutions are not only scientifically grounded but also practically applicable across different levels of society.

By partnering with initiatives like the West Midlands Combined Authority’s Net Zero Neighbourhood, the Hub will monitor retrofit projects in real homes to improve both environmental and health outcomes. Professor Gupta says, “Working closely with authorities, businesses, and communities ensures our research addresses real needs.”

Beyond theoretical research, the INHABIT Hub is committed to generating practical, scalable solutions that can be applied in real-world scenarios, helping local authorities, housing associations, and businesses implement effective retrofit strategies that are both environmentally and health-conscious.

The path to a healthier future

INHABIT’s ultimate goal is to maximise the health benefits of retrofitting while helping the UK meet its net zero targets. The research will provide local authorities, housing associations, and businesses with better tools and strategies to assess retrofit projects, improving indoor environments and reducing energy bills. The broader benefits include healthier homes, lower healthcare costs, and greater social equity for vulnerable populations.

One of the core objectives of the INHABIT Hub is to not only focus on environmental sustainability but also to explore how retrofitting can improve health outcomes by reducing risks like damp and mould, which disproportionately affect vulnerable populations, including the elderly and those with respiratory conditions.

Professor Gupta concludes: “By integrating health considerations into retrofit strategies, we can unlock co-benefits that improve people’s quality of life and contribute to a fairer society. This is vital for ensuring the UK’s transition to net zero is successful for everyone.”

In addition to collaborating in the INHABIT Hub, Oxford Brookes University is the lead institution for another research Hub funded under the same programme and addressing the extreme weather challenge area, the  ‘National Research Hub on Net Zero, Health and Extreme Heat’ (HEARTH), Hub, which Professor Gupta is leading. HEARTH focuses on improving the environmental performance and energy efficiency of the UK’s housing stock while considering the health and wellbeing of residents. Both Hubs work synergistically to address the pressing need for healthier, more sustainable homes, positioning Oxford Brookes University at the forefront of this critical area of research.