Towards healthier homes: Behaviour-informed approaches to damp, mould and ventilation

BK, Satish, Lannon, Simon ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4677-7184 and Peedikaparambil Somasundaran, Aathira 2026. Towards healthier homes: Behaviour-informed approaches to damp, mould and ventilation. Presented at: UKIEG 2026, Glasgow, Scotland, 25 June 2026.

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Abstract

Damp, mould and poor ventilation remain persistent challenges in UK housing, particularly as homes are upgraded to improve energy performance. Yet responses to damp and mould cannot rely on technical measures alone. Healthier indoor environments also depend on how homes are used, ventilated and understood in everyday life. Building on earlier work on indoor air quality and household practices, this project examined how behavioural, environmental and communication factors can inform healthier homes. Using a mixed-methods and participatory approach, the study combined indoor environmental monitoring, stakeholder engagement and co-design with residents, housing professionals, government representatives and industry partners. Case-study homes were monitored to capture patterns in temperature, humidity and CO2, with attention to how activities such as cooking, bathing and window-opening shaped indoor conditions. These findings were discussed through workshops and technical consultation to identify ways of improving ventilation use, reducing moisture risk, and informing responses to damp and mould. A key contribution of the project is the development of an accessible monitoring and communication approach that translates environmental data into meaningful insights. The project explored ways of presenting indoor air quality information through visual summaries, risk indicators and alert-based feedback, helping residents and housing providers recognise patterns linked to damp and mould risk. This enabled building performance to be understood not simply as a technical issue, but as something shaped by the interaction between technical measures, routines and decision-making. The project produced a behaviour-informed framework for healthier, mould-free homes, supported by visual resources and guidance for residents and housing providers. The findings identify behaviour-led strategies to address damp and mould, improve ventilation, and promote healthier indoor environments. They also point to the need for indoor environmental quality to be addressed explicitly within housing policy, including the Welsh Housing Quality Standard, positioning retrofit as both an energy and public health intervention.

Item Type:	Conference or Workshop Item - unpublished
Status:	Unpublished
Schools:	Schools > Architecture
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	16 July 2026
Last Modified:	16 Jul 2026 08:47
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/188254

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