SCHOOL OF EARTH AND ENVIRONMENT

An investigation into the potential opportunities for improving the An investigation into the potential opportunities for improving the sustainability of low-income urban households by focusing on home sustainability of low-income urban households by focusing on home

energy efficiency and local food productionenergy efficiency and local food productionJosh Prior1, Damian Howells1, John Barrett1

1 School of Earth and Environment, University of Leeds, Leeds, UKBackground to the projectThe energy use habits, consumption patterns and leisure choices of those in the UK’s lowest socioeconomic strata are quite different to the rest of society (Jenkins et al. 2011) and the information given to these people should reflect these differences. Up to the present the Government’s position has, for the most part, been to recommend blanket measures that are appropriate to all; such as the recently launched Green Deal (DECC, 2010). However in many social housing cases this does not offer value for money, either for the consumer or towards government climate change targets.

Flow Chart of Methods

Current Literature

Methods and Main Findings

The aim was to create two representative, distinct and robust data sets that allow advanced mathematical and literary analysis where findings could cross-reference each other and be triangulated through literature (Dale, 2011; O’Leary, 2010; Weiss, 1995). These where:

1.A carbon and ecological footprint of the community using the REAP-Petite computer model. Each resident was given the opportunity to complete the questionnaire which created a representative community footprint. This identified that the proportionally high financial and environmental cost associated with energy and food could be reduced in a triple-win scenario.2.Having identified food and energy as avenues for further research, the project returned to the community holding interviews with residents regarding their attitude towards food and energy related projects which would culminate in sustainable outcomes. This identified that residents actively wanted the space to grow their own food and increase the insulation and so heat retention of their properties.

References

• Blue = Quantitative• Red = Qualitative• Purple = Literature

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Recommendations and ConclusionsProviding allotment style spaces to grow fresh healthy food can:•Reduced financial outgoings leaving more to spend on children, skills or leisure (Glickman, 1999)•Build resilience into vulnerable communities (Wright, 2010)•Reduce CO2 aiding climate change targets (Kerckhove, 2012)•Increase food security and food sovereignty (Haliweil, 2012)•Provide physical and mental health benefits leading to NHS savings (WHO, 2000)•People with healthy diets have decreased absences from school and work (Burningham and Thrush, 2001)•Cleans polluted city air by growing plants (SEPA, 2014)•Generate jobs in sustainable community building (Finley, 2013)

Providing low-cost insulation techniques for a warm efficient house can:•Reduced financial outgoings leaving more to spend on children, skills or leisure (Watt, 2009)•Reduce CO2, aiding climate change targets (Ireland, 2008)•Provide physical and mental health benefits leading to NHS savings (Wright and Fischer 2003; Evans et al 2000)•Increase comfort in the home (Power 2008)•Offer some protection to energy price rises (DENA, 2013)•Reduced damp mould and condensation (Burningham and Thrush, 2001)•Improve the quality of the social housing stock (Baeten, 2009)•Make tenants proud enough to invite friends over (Markus, 1993)These measures could offer substantial gains in the standard of living for low-income communities, decoupling prosperity from CO2, building physically and mentally healthy communities while protecting the global and regenerating the local environments.

Agyeman, J. 2005. Sustainable Communities and the Challenge of Environmental Justice. New York: NYU Press.Baeten, G. (2009). Regenerating the South Bank: reworking community and the emergence of post political regeneration. In: Imrie, R. Raco, M. (2009). Regenerating London: Governance, Sustainability and Community in a Global City. Routledge. Oxon.Burningham, K. Thrush, D. 2001. ‘Rainforests are a long way from here’ The environmental concerns of disadvantaged groups. York. Rowntree FoundationCaird, S, Roy, R. 2006. Household ecological footprints demographics and sustainability. Journal of Environmental Assessment Policy and Management. 8(4). 407–429.Dale, A. 2011. Using Survey Data: Researching Families and Households. Mason, J, Dale, A. (1). Understanding Social Research: Thinking Creatively about Method. London. SAGE Publications. 90-103. DENA. (2013). Efficient House Pilot Project. [Online]. [17/12/2013]. Available from: http://www.dena.de/en/projects/building/efficient-house-pilot-project.htmlDepartment for Energy and Climate Change. 2010. The Green Deal A summary of the Government’s proposals. London. Crown Copyright.Department for International Development. 1999. Sustainable livelihood Guidance Framework. EU. DFIDDruckman, A, Jackson, T. 2009. The carbon footprint of UK households 1990–2004: A socio-economically disaggregated, quasi-multi-regional input–output model. Ecological Economics. 68. 2066-2077Evans J, Hyndman S, Stewart-Brown S, Smith D and Petersen S (2000) An epidemiological study of the relative importance of damp housing in relation to adult health. Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, vol.54 (9) pp.677-86 Glickman, LB. 1999. A Living Wage: American Workers and the Making of Consumer Society. New York. Cornell University PressHalweil, B. 2004. Eat Here: Reclaiming Homegrown Pleasures in a Global Supermarket. Massachusetts. World Watch Institute.

Ireland, D., 2008. New Tricks with Old Bricks. The Empty Homes Agency, LondonJenkins, D, Middlemiss, L, Pharoah, R. 2011. A study of fuel poverty and low-carbon synergies in social housing. UnpublishedKerckhove, GV. 2012. Toxic Capitalism: The Orgy of Consumerism and Waste: Are We the Last Generation on Earth? Bloomington. Author House Markus T. (1993) ‘Cold, condensation and housing poverty’. In: Burridge R, Ormandy D, editors Unhealthy housing: research, remedies and reform. London: E&FN SponO’Leary, Z. 2010. The Essential Guide to Doing Your Research Project. London. SAGE Publications.Power, A. 2008. Does demolition or refurbishment of old and inefficient homes help to increase our environmental, social and economic viability? Energy Policy. 36. 4487-4501.Ron Finley. 2013. Ron Finley: A guerrilla gardener in South Central LA. [Online]. [04/01/2014]. Available from:http://www.ted.com/talks/ron_finley_a_guerilla_gardener_in_south_central_la.htmlSEPA (Scotish Environmental Protection Agency). 2014. Air Quality. [Online]. [05/01/2014]. Available from: http://www.sepa.org.uk/flash/Mtc_air_quality_core_doc.htmlWatt, P. (2009). Social Housing and Regeneration in London. In: Imrie, R. Raco, M. (2009). Regenerating London: Governance, Sustainability and Community in a Global City. Routledge. OxonWeiss, R. 1995. Learning from Strangers: The Art and Method of Qualitative Interview Studies. New York. The Free Press.WHO (World Health Organisation). 2002. Obesity Preventing and Managing the Global Epidemic. Singapore. WHO.Wright, EO. 2010. Envisioning Real Utopias. London. VersoWright, R. Fischer, E. (2003). Putting Asthma into Context: Community Influence on Risk Behaviour and Intervention. In:Kwachi, I. Berkman, l. (2003) Neighbourhoods and Health. Oxford University Press. Oxford