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Prevalence of poor indoor climate in Europe

Across the EU, UK, Switzerland and Norway (EU27+):

• 13 per cent of the population live in a dwelling with damp or rot.
• 18 per cent of the population live in a household affected by noise pollution.
• 7 per cent of the population are unable to keep their home adequately warm.
• 5 per cent of the population consider their home to be too dark.

The well-being effects from indoor climate hazards

There is a strong link between a poor indoor climate and health impacts. In addition, living with indoor climate hazards was found to be associated with lower levels of life satisfaction:

• 1.6 per cent lower for damp in a dwelling.
• 1.1 per cent lower for lack of daylight in a dwelling.
• 0.6 per cent lower for noise in a dwelling.
• 3.9 per cent lower for excess cold in a dwelling.

The economic effects from indoor climate hazards

The macroeconomic cost associated with exposure to damp and mould and the lack of daylight in residential buildings up to 2050 would be about EUR 53 billion. Furthermore, improving ventilation rates in offices could lead to an increase in gross domestic product (GDP) by up to EUR 180 billion. Finally, improving access to daylight in offices could lead to a cumulative increase in EU27+ GDP of up to EUR 200 billion.

There is strong evidence that a poor indoor climate has a significant impact on people's health and well-being, and that in turn has wider socio-economic consequences, such as via its impact on work attendance, productivity and performance.

Four indoor hazards in particular were identified and used in the analysis: Damp and mould; Noise pollution; Indoor temperature (excess cold), and; Lack of daylight.

The objective of this study was to undertake a detailed analysis of the impact of the indoor climate across all age groups in the EU and the UK, Norway and Switzerland. For this purpose, the study team utilised the following:

• Chapter One

  Introduction

• Chapter Two

  Study design and methods

• Chapter Three

  Prevalence of poor indoor climate in Europe: Results of data review

• Chapter Four

  Poor indoor climate and its impacts on health and society: Results of literature review

• Chapter Five

  Quantifying the healthcare costs and well-being effects associated with poor indoor climate

• Chapter Six

  Quantifying the economic effects from indoor climate risks related to residential and office buildings

• Chapter Seven

  Summary and implications of study findings

• Appendix A

  The well-being valuation approach in relation to indoor climate risk factors

• Appendix B

  Cumulative direct healthcare cost associated with damp or mould and lack of daylight