Towards Targeted Warmth: An Evidence-Based Approach to Tackling Fuel Poverty and Health Inequalities Across Northern Ireland’s Housing Archetypes

Summary

As per the Northern Ireland House Condition Survey (NIHCS), 22% (160,000) of dwellings experienced fuel poverty in 2016 (NIHCS, 2018). A recent modelled estimate by the BRE group suggests this may have risen to 24% (179,000) by 2021, largely due to increasing energy costs, which is an alarming and persistent trend.

Fuel poverty remains a pressing issue in Northern Ireland, as cold, inefficient homes not only raise household energy costs but also contribute to avoidable health inequalities.

While fuel poverty research has traditionally emphasised income, energy costs, and household behaviour (Boardman, 2010; Bouzarovski & Petrova, 2015), limited attention has been paid to the way housing archetypes and local urban microclimates combine to shape heat loss, comfort, and vulnerability, factors that are critical for developing spatially targeted and resilient interventions.

Therefore, this research will address these challenges through an integrated, evidence-based framework that connects housing typologies, local microclimatic conditions, and social vulnerability to identify targeted solutions that achieve maximum resilience with minimal intervention.

The study will begin by classifying Northern Ireland’s diverse housing stock into distinct archetypes, based on physical characteristics such as form, construction, location, and technical features.

Each archetype will then be examined within its environmental and microclimatic context, including factors such as orientation, exposure, surrounding landform, and local temperature variation, to develop a precise understanding of how physical and spatial conditions influence energy performance and thermal comfort.

By combining spatial mapping, data modelling, and fuel poverty metrics, the project will identify where health risks are most concentrated and where small, targeted improvements can deliver the greatest energy and wellbeing gains.

The outcome will be a decision-support framework to guide policymakers, housing authorities, and health agencies in designing place-sensitive, cost-effective actions for warmer, healthier homes.
It is ideal for applicants interested in applying spatial data, environmental analytics, or building science to create evidence-based pathways toward sustainable warmth and health equity.

Essential criteria

Applicants should hold, or expect to obtain, a First or Upper Second Class Honours Degree in a subject relevant to the proposed area of study.

We may also consider applications from those who hold equivalent qualifications, for example, a Lower Second Class Honours Degree plus a Master’s Degree with Distinction.

In exceptional circumstances, the University may consider a portfolio of evidence from applicants who have appropriate professional experience which is equivalent to the learning outcomes of an Honours degree in lieu of academic qualifications.

• Research proposal of no more than 2000 words detailing aims, objectives, milestones and methodology of the project

Equal Opportunities

The University is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applicants from all sections of the community, particularly from those with disabilities.

Appointment will be made on merit.

Funding and eligibility

This project is funded by:

• Department for the Economy (DfE)
• Vice Chancellor's Research Scholarship (VCRS)

PhD scholarships are available for this project to all applicants worldwide, regardless of residency or domicile, and will cover:

• Tuition fees.
• A maintenance allowance of approximately £22,000 (exact rate is to be confirmed) per annum for three years, subject to satisfactory academic performance.
• A Research Training Support Grant (RTSG) of approximately £900 per annum.

Applicants who already hold a doctoral degree or who have been registered on a programme of research leading to the award of a doctoral degree on a full-time basis for more than one year, or part-time equivalent, funded from any source, including self-financing students, are NOT eligible to apply for an award.

Students in full-time employment are not eligible for an award.

Part-time PhD scholarships may be available at a 0.5 pro rata rate of the full-time scholarship, which would require a six-year registration period.

Due consideration should be given to financing your studies.

The University will award a successful candidate one of the following scholarships for the project, depending on the funding available at the time an admissions offer is made:

1. Department for the Economy (DfE) PhD Scholarships
2. Vice Chancellor’s Research Scholarships (VCRS)

Please note that the Terms and Conditions for scholarships are subject to change for 2027/28.