Evaluating Occupant Wellbeing in Retrofitted Dwellings with the Short Form 36 Questionnaire

Abstract

This paper discusses a research project led by Cardiff Metropolitan University (Cardiff Met) in collaboration with Being Greener at Melin Homes under the Knowledge Economy Skills Scholarship two (KESS2). Following Being Greener’s successful completion of managing the Arbed 2 scheme in Wales UK between 2012 and 2014, Cardiff Met is working with Melin Homes property occupants who’s properties have undergone retrofit applications, to investigate if they have experienced any changes to their thermal comfort, health and wellbeing as well as fuel poverty. There is much work to date in the UK which focuses upon investigating impacts upon the dwellings themselves, however, there is very limited research which looks at the relationship between occupant thermal comfort, health and wellbeing and fuel poverty within these dwellings. The use of the short form (SF) 36 questionnaire is incorporated into the methodology and is being piloted on a sample size of Arbed occupants. Context to the academic, scientific, and industrial challenges are discussed. This paper will be useful for academics, landlords of housing stock undergoing retrofit measures and government agencies funding retrofit upgrades to dwellings.