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Project title

A Just Transition for Housing

Primary Funding Agency

Environmental Protection Agency

Co-Funding Organisation(s)

n/a

Lead Organisation

Maynooth University (MU)

Lead Applicant

Patrick Bresnihan

Project Abstract

Decarbonisation of housing is urgently required to meet climate change targets. National and EU-level strategies promote domestic retrofits and energy efficiency upgrades to meet these targets and simultaneously tackle energy poverty and poor housing conditions. However there are many potential obstacles to retrofitting particularly amongst low-income and marginalised groups. Retrofitting may also increase housing costs and contribute to housing precarity and/or displacement. Despite the critical importance of realising a Just Transition and the potential impact of sustainability policies on housing, the interaction between these two fields is not well understood. As Ireland enters a crucial period for its ambitious plan to reduce emissions by 51% by 2030, this project will provide internationally relevant research on the societal dimensions of decarbonisation in the housing sector. This work will not only offer policy-relevant research into a key area of climate governance, it will also advance fundamental understanding of the complex interplay of housing, equity and decarbonisation. The project has four objectives: 1. Assess current retrofitting policies and practices in Ireland with a focus on equity and inclusion 2. Identify and map the governance and socio-economic factors that limit the uptake of retrofitting and exacerbate existing social inequalities 3. Draw on the knowledge and experience of diverse stakeholders in Ireland to co-produce alternative retrofitting strategies 4. Identify best international practice on equitable retrofitting policy and practice and make this relevant to the Irish context The JustHousing project will address the following key questions: RQ1) To what extent are current retrofitting policies and practices in Ireland equitable and inclusive? RQ2) What are the governance and socio-economic factors that create barriers to equitable decarbonisation of housing and wider adoption of domestic retrofits in Ireland? RQ3) How do experiences, knowledge and outcomes of domestic retrofits vary depending on factors such as housing tenure, geography and socio-economic profile? RQ4) What alternative retrofitting strategies, policies and practices could be adopted to ensure that all sections of society benefit from housing decarbonisation and retrofitting? These questions will be addressed through a mixed methods approach involving quantitative and qualitative data analysis carried out by an interdisciplinary research team. The project will involve 1) an in-depth longitudinal policy analysis and review of international best practice in Just Transition approaches to the decarbonisation of housing, 2) exploration of practices and experiences of retrofitting in different contexts through interviews with key stakeholder groups including those living in or with responsibility for different forms of housing tenure (private rental, public housing and owner occupation) and 3) quantitative/ spatial analysis to analyse patterns and implications of domestic retrofits in Ireland. The project will produce essential new knowledge regarding how a Just Transition for housing can be achieved with immediate relevance to policy at national and EU level. This knowledge will be shared and gain impact through peer-reviewed publications, a series of three targeted reports on retrofitting practices in different forms of housing tenure and research symposium to share finds with national and European policymakers, other stakeholders and the international research community.

Grant Approved

�505,842.47

Research Hub

Climate Change

Research Theme

Addressing the Societal Dimension of Environmental Challenges

Start Date

30/01/2024

Initial Projected Completion Date

29/01/2027