Improving energy performance and futureproofing social housing
11 February 2026
Claire Brown, a researcher at the Tyndall Centre, and colleagues have published a new paper in Energy Policy titled “Improving energy performance and futureproofing social housing: Professional views and policy directions in the UK."
This paper adds to the debate about why energy demand has lacked progress around the decarbonisation path. Using a case study of UK-based construction professionals, we examine key challenges in current and future housing and energy policy. Read the paper - Improving energy performance and futureproofing social housing: Professional views and policy directions in the UK.
Analysis from interviews indicates that heat, heating, and heat pumps are mentioned in the responses more than cooling, indicating that heating is still the dominant policy theme when it comes to climate change and housing.
Construction and housing professionals recognise that movement in UK Housing policy is needed to address thermal comfort in homes, supporting the need for a transition to stronger climate policies.