PhD Study : Investigating spatial variations in fuel poverty and determining the potential of, and attitudes towards, low-energy buildings and renewable technologies in Northern Ireland

Summary

Fuel poverty occurs when a homeowner must spend at least 10% of their income on maintaining a warm home (1). Living in cold homes is related to Excess Winter Mortality (2) in addition to mental (3) and physical health (4). Fuel poverty is influenced by three factors.

Firstly, household income has a significant impact on fuel poverty. Across the UK, Northern Ireland (NI) has the lowest median weekly income before housing costs (5) and the highest level of worklessness (6), thus leading to greater vulnerability to poverty.

Secondly, the energy efficiency of the home contributes to the extent of fuel poverty in a home. While inefficient buildings typically are at risk of fuel poverty, they also contribute to carbon emissions (7). Low-energy homes (such as those built to the passive house standard) have been shown to consume one third of the energy of traditional dwellings (8), and have a potential contribution to make.

The third contributor to fuel poverty is the cost of domestic energy services. NI has been restricted to home heating oil (HHO) and has had limited access to natural gas (9). The UK’s Climate Change Committee (10) has recommended electric heat pumps as the preferred heating option, and NI has the second lowest domestic electricity price in Europe. Fuel poverty varies considerably across space and time and models are required that identify those homes at greatest risk of fuel poverty (11; 12).

By identifying local areas at risk of fuel poverty, interventions such as renewable technologies, deep energy retrofit projects and low-energy new build initiatives can be targeted. However, identification of suitable areas demands excellent data that describe not only the building, but also the inhabitants of the home. This project will seek to use a large dataset (NI House Condition Survey) to identify relationships between variables and fuel poverty across NI.

This project has five connected work packages:

WP1: A systematic litearature review will identify predictors of fuel poverty and how low-energy building and renewable technologies can reduce fuel poverty.

WP2: A large dataset (N=3,000) of individual building data will be statistically analysed to identify relationships between fuel poverty scores and predictors (e.g. dwelling type or household income).

WP3: The main predictors of fuel poverty will be mapped at small area level using open data in a Geographic Information Systems (GIS). This stage will involve the use of Geographically Weighted Regression (GWR) to identify spatial variations in fuel poverty across NI. This stage will also identify ‘clusters’ of risk from which individual homes will be selected for WP4.

WP4: A sample of homes in areas of high predicted risk of fuel poverty will be visited to determine the extent to which homes are experiencing fuel poverty. Qualitative surveys will be used to assess attitudes to low-energy building and renewable technologies.

WP5: The potential contribution of low-energy homes in combination with electric heat pumps and renewable energy will be determined.

The project would suit a student with skills in GIS and statistics although training will be provided.  The project will ideally attract a candidate with methodological and/or applied experience.

References will be requested for shortlisted candidates.

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.

• A comprehensive and articulate personal statement
• A demonstrable interest in the research area associated with the studentship

Desirable Criteria

If the University receives a large number of applicants for the project, the following desirable criteria may be applied to shortlist applicants for interview.

• First Class Honours (1st) Degree
• Masters at 65%
• Research project completion within taught Masters degree or MRES
• Experience using research methods or other approaches relevant to the subject domain
• Work experience relevant to the proposed project
• Experience of presentation of research findings

Funding and eligibility

The University offers the following levels of support:

Vice Chancellors Research Studentship (VCRS)

The following scholarship options are available to applicants worldwide:

• Full Award: (full-time tuition fees + £19,000 (tbc))
• Part Award: (full-time tuition fees + £9,500)
• Fees Only Award: (full-time tuition fees)

These scholarships will cover full-time PhD tuition fees for three years (subject to satisfactory academic performance) and will provide a £900 per annum research training support grant (RTSG) to help support the PhD researcher.

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) are NOT eligible to apply for an award.

Please note: you will automatically be entered into the competition for the Full Award, unless you state otherwise in your application.

Department for the Economy (DFE)

The scholarship will cover tuition fees at the Home rate and a maintenance allowance of £19,000 (tbc) per annum for three years (subject to satisfactory academic performance).

This scholarship also comes with £900 per annum for three years as a research training support grant (RTSG) allocation to help support the PhD researcher.

• Candidates with pre-settled or settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, who also satisfy a three year residency requirement in the UK prior to the start of the course for which a Studentship is held MAY receive a Studentship covering fees and maintenance.
• Republic of Ireland (ROI) nationals who satisfy three years’ residency in the UK prior to the start of the course MAY receive a Studentship covering fees and maintenance (ROI nationals don’t need to have pre-settled or settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme to qualify).
• Other non-ROI EU applicants are ‘International’ are not eligible for this source of funding.
• 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) are NOT eligible to apply for an award.

Due consideration should be given to financing your studies. Further information on cost of living