The UK must retrofit 29 million homes to meet its net zero emissions target by 2050—a £250 billion project that will fundamentally change the indoor environments where people live. This matters because retrofitting can bring clear health benefits, such as warmer homes in winter and better protection from outdoor air pollution. But if done poorly, it can trap moisture and indoor pollutants, creating damp, mould, and worsening conditions like asthma. The problem is that scientists currently lack the knowledge and tools to predict which retrofit choices will help and which will harm, especially for vulnerable groups such as older people and those with pre-existing health conditions. The INHABIT Hub aims to close that gap. If successful, it will produce practical tools that let policymakers, builders, and landlords assess the health impacts of different retrofit options before they are installed. This could transform a massive infrastructure programme—one that touches every home in the country—from a potential health risk into a genuine public health improvement, while still cutting greenhouse gas emissions.
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To meet its legally-binding target of achieving net zero emissions of greenhouse gases (GHG) by 2050, the UK must eliminate GHG emissions from homes. This enormous task involves retrofitting—the process of upgrading the energy efficiency—of the 29 million homes. These retrofits will significantly change indoor environments, bringing health co-benefits by improving home warmth during the winter and providing protection against harmful outdoor air pollutants. However, if not done properly, these modifications can trap indoor air pollutants and moisture, deteriorating indoor air quality and causing issues such as damp/mould. These conditions can adversely affect health and wellbeing, particularly for the most vulnerable in society, such as older people and those with pre-existing conditions like asthma. An opportunity and challenges Retrofitting the UK's homes will require a substantial investment—estimated at £250 billion by 2050. This offers an unprecedented opportunity to enhance environmental and socio-economic outcomes, including public health improvements and reduced inequalities. However, our current lack of scientific knowledge and tools hampers our ability to fully capitalise on this potential. Specifically, we lack understanding of how retrofitting impacts the indoor environment and health in real-world scenarios and we do not have comprehensive tools to assess both positive and negative health impacts of retrofit options. Furthermore, our insights into the complex interactions among the indoor environment, health, inequalities, behaviours, and regulatory and financial frameworks are limited. The INHABIT Hub has been specifically established to tackle these complex challenges.
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