Journal article
Effect of insulating existing houses on health inequality: cluster randomised study in the community.
Philippa Howden-Chapman, Anna Matheson, Julian Crane, Helen Viggers, Malcolm Cunningham, Tony Blakely, Chris Cunningham, Alistair Woodward, Kay Saville-Smith, Des O'Dea, Martin Kennedy, Michael Baker, Nick Waipara, Ralph Chapman, Gabrielle Davie
BMJ | Published : 2007
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To determine whether insulating existing houses increases indoor temperatures and improves occupants' health and wellbeing. DESIGN: Community based, cluster, single blinded randomised study. SETTING: Seven low income communities in New Zealand. PARTICIPANTS: 1350 households containing 4407 participants. INTERVENTION: Installation of a standard retrofit insulation package. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Indoor temperature and relative humidity, energy consumption, self reported health, wheezing, days off school and work, visits to general practitioners, and admissions to hospital. RESULTS: Insulation was associated with a small increase in bedroom temperatures during the winter (0.5 degree..
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