Dwelling adaptation for sustainability:Improving interventions for energy efficiency, comfort and equity in Tasmania

In Tasmania it is common for householders in disadvantaged circumstances to live in uncomfortable and energy inefficient housing, which creates sustainability and affordability challenges. Adapting dwellings and dwelling practices to improve comfort and energy efficiency can help to create healthier, more affordable and more equitable living conditions. Yet, householders dwelling in disadvantaged circumstances who would benefit most from adaptations tend to be the people with the least adaptive capacity. Interventions encouraging dwelling adaptation for energy efficiency and comfort have had limited impact in Tasmania. I argue that limited effectiveness of interventions is in part due to their generalised designs. This investigation seeks to contribute to the creation of more effective interventions to support households with low adaptive capacity in Tasmania. To this end the study asks in Tasmania, what measures could be taken by housing stakeholders to improve the design of interventions that encourage dwelling adaptation for improved comfort and energy efficiency in households with low adaptive capacity?