Healthy affordable housing and energy: the evidence and how we get there

09:00 - 10:30, Feb 21 2025, CST; 14:00 – 15:30, Feb 21 2025, NZST
 

Please register here.
 

Philippa Howden-Chapman, distinguished professor of public health at the University of Otago, Wellington, is co-director of He Kāinga Oranga/ Housing and Health Research Programme, director of the NZ Centre for Sustainable Cities and the WHO Collaborating Centre on Housing and Wellbeing. Her community housing trials in partnership with local communities and longitudinal studies, have had an influence on housing, health and urban policy. She is a fellow of the Royal Society of NZ, former chair of the ISC Committee on Urban Health and Wellbeing: a systems approach and a director of the Crown Entity Kāinga Ora-homes and communities. Her numerous awards include the Prime Minister’s Science Team Prize, the Royal Society of NZ Rutherford Medal, the UoO Distinguished Research Medal, the Queen’s Service Order and the Companion of the NZ Order of Merit for contributions to public health.
 

Abstract

We spend most of our time indoors, which is the most important environment we are exposed to, particularly infants and older people. The quality of housing is linked to respiratory and cardiovascular ill-health from cold, heat and mould. I will outline key policies that have an impact on housing, particularly the funding models, which can influence household crowding, the highest risk factor for close-contact diseases.

Embodied construction of housing and the operation of energy is estimated to be about 20 percent of carbon emissions and proximity to public transport makes an important contribution to a further 30 percent of emissions. Adoption of smart energy-grids rather than national grids is becoming increasingly important for sustainability.