Enhancing the adaptive thermal comfort of older people and reducing the energy use of the building

Older people living in extra-care housing are opening windows, pulling curtains, and switching on fans to stay comfortable—but many of these simple building features are not designed for their needs. This matters because the UK’s ageing population spends more time indoors, yet the passive strategies meant to keep buildings comfortable—such as natural ventilation, shading, and insulation—are often inaccessible or ineffective for older users. A window that is too stiff to open, a blind that requires reaching, or a thermostat placed out of sight can push residents toward energy-hungry solutions like portable heaters or air conditioning, driving up both bills and carbon emissions. The research will identify which passive strategies are actually present in extra-care housing, observe how older people use them when thermal comfort deteriorates, and develop practical recommendations for making these features work for the people who need them. If successful, the findings could reshape how retirement housing is designed and retrofitted, reducing energy use without sacrificing comfort. This is applied research with a direct impact on building standards, energy policy, and the daily lives of an ageing population.