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The impact of household energy efficiency measures on health: A meta-analysis

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  • Maidment, Christopher D.
  • Jones, Christopher R.
  • Webb, Thomas L.
  • Hathway, E. Abigail
  • Gilbertson, Jan M.

Abstract

It is widely accepted that interventions designed to promote household energy efficiency, like insulation, central heating and double glazing, can help to reduce cold-related illnesses and associated stress by making it easier for residents to keep their homes warm. However, these interventions may also have a detrimental effect on health. For example, the materials used or lower ventilation rates could result in poorer indoor air quality. The present research sought to systematically quantify the impact of household energy efficiency measures on health and wellbeing. Thirty-six studies, involving more than 33,000 participants were meta-analysed. Effect sizes (d) ranged from −0.43 (a negative impact on health) to 1.41 (a substantial positive impact on health), with an overall sample-weighted average effect size (d+) of 0.08. On average, therefore, household energy efficiency interventions led to a small but significant improvement in the health of residents. The findings are discussed in the context of the health improvements experienced by different groups of participants and the study design factors that influence health outcomes. The need for future studies to investigate the long term health benefits of interventions designed to promote household energy efficiency is identified.

Suggested Citation

  • Maidment, Christopher D. & Jones, Christopher R. & Webb, Thomas L. & Hathway, E. Abigail & Gilbertson, Jan M., 2014. "The impact of household energy efficiency measures on health: A meta-analysis," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 65(C), pages 583-593.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:enepol:v:65:y:2014:i:c:p:583-593
    DOI: 10.1016/j.enpol.2013.10.054
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    8. Alessia Riva & Andrea Rebecchi & Stefano Capolongo & Marco Gola, 2022. "Can Homes Affect Well-Being? A Scoping Review among Housing Conditions, Indoor Environmental Quality, and Mental Health Outcomes," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(23), pages 1-25, November.
    9. Labandeira, Xavier & Labeaga, José M. & Linares, Pedro & López-Otero, Xiral, 2020. "The impacts of energy efficiency policies: Meta-analysis," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 147(C).
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    11. Adam Pollard & Tim Jones & Stephen Sherratt & Richard A. Sharpe, 2019. "Use of Simple Telemetry to Reduce the Health Impacts of Fuel Poverty and Living in Cold Homes," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(16), pages 1-15, August.
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    15. Hancevic, Pedro I. & Sandoval, Hector H., 2022. "Low-income energy efficiency programs and energy consumption," Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, Elsevier, vol. 113(C).
    16. Ahmed, Mansoor & Shuai, Chuanmin & Abbas, Khizar & Rehman, Faheem Ur & Khoso, Wali Muhammad, 2022. "Investigating health impacts of household air pollution on woman's pregnancy and sterilization: Empirical evidence from Pakistan, India, and Bangladesh," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 247(C).
    17. Miriam Berretta & Joshua Furgeson & Yue (Nicole) Wu & Collins Zamawe & Ian Hamilton & John Eyers, 2021. "Residential energy efficiency interventions: A meta‐analysis of effectiveness studies," Campbell Systematic Reviews, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 17(4), December.
    18. Richard A. Sharpe & Tim Taylor & Lora E. Fleming & Karyn Morrissey & George Morris & Rachel Wigglesworth, 2018. "Making the Case for “Whole System” Approaches: Integrating Public Health and Housing," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(11), pages 1-22, October.
    19. Brennan D. Less & Núria Casquero-Modrego & Iain S. Walker, 2022. "Home Energy Upgrades as a Pathway to Home Decarbonization in the US: A Literature Review," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(15), pages 1-26, August.
    20. Camprubí, Lluís & Malmusi, Davide & Mehdipanah, Roshanak & Palència, Laia & Molnar, Agnes & Muntaner, Carles & Borrell, Carme, 2016. "Façade insulation retrofitting policy implementation process and its effects on health equity determinants: A realist review," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 91(C), pages 304-314.
    21. John P. A. Ioannidis & T. D. Stanley & Hristos Doucouliagos, 2017. "The Power of Bias in Economics Research," Economic Journal, Royal Economic Society, vol. 127(605), pages 236-265, October.
    22. Zhang, Shaohui & Worrell, Ernst & Crijns-Graus, Wina & Krol, Maarten & de Bruine, Marco & Geng, Guangpo & Wagner, Fabian & Cofala, Janusz, 2016. "Modeling energy efficiency to improve air quality and health effects of China’s cement industry," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 184(C), pages 574-593.
    23. Jacques- Aviñó, Constanza & Peralta, Andrés & Carrere, Juli & Marí-Dell'Olmo, Marc & Benach, Joan & López, María-José, 2022. "Qualitative evaluation of an intervention to reduce energy poverty: Effects perceived by participants according to typologies of social vulnerability," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 167(C).

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