Understanding Warmth in Social Housing

TEASA (Techno-Anthropology of heat in social housing retrofits) is a research project exploring why energy-efficient home upgrades do not always work as planned for the people who live in them. The project is funded by Research Ireland’s Collaborative Alliances for Societal Challenges (COALESCE) programme.

The Project

When social housing buildings are retrofitted with new heating systems and insulation, the technical improvements do not always translate into warmer, more comfortable homes. Residents may struggle with higher energy costs and unfamiliar technology as well as issues like damp and mould. Our project asks: are these merely engineering problems, or are they also about how people use and experience these new systems in their daily lives? The project aims to combine engineering and anthropology. 

Our Case Study

We are working with Cork City Council and Cork City Partnership to study 262 apartments and houses in the Árd Bhaile and Glenamoy Lawn complex in Cork which were retrofitted in 2016-2017. Before the retrofit, residents had free heating through a district system. After the retrofit, despite improved energy ratings, many residents have reported concerns about costs, heat pumps and dampness. We intend to compare findings with research gathered in social housing in Tartu, a city in Estonia where residents are reluctant to commit to retrofits.

Our Approach

TEASA brings together engineers and anthropologists to understand the technical and social of the issue. By listening to residents and examining how retrofitted homes are actually lived in, we aim to properly understand how energy upgrades function, technically and socially.

Our Team

The TEASA team is made up of James Cuffe (lead PI), Sarah O’Connell (co-PI), Felix Rolt (researcher) and Nathan Barr (research assistant).