Towards a Retrofit of Care : Examining Energy Retrofitting in Scottish Households Through the Lens of Care Ethics

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Cairns, Iain and Verhoeven, G. Arno and Bolton, Ciara and Ibrahim, Azlizawati and Miller, Emma C. and Zeinali, Shahrzad and Hannon, Matthew and Carter, Kate (2026) Towards a Retrofit of Care : Examining Energy Retrofitting in Scottish Households Through the Lens of Care Ethics. Edinburgh Diamond, Edinburgh. ISBN 9781836451389 (https://doi.org/10.2218/ED.9781836451389)

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Abstract

This insights paper sets out to explore a pressing and complex challenge within the field of climate action: how to ensure that energy retrofit efforts are under- taken with sufficient care. Despite retrofit’s pivotal role in addressing domestic greenhouse gas emissions, evidence from Scotland suggests that poorly executed retrofits are causing real harm, manifesting in damp, mould, tenant distress, and even reduction in property values. These failures, though often discussed in technical or economic terms, reveal a deeper systemic issue: a widespread absence of care in energy retrofit planning and delivery. Against this backdrop, our study offers a new perspective by asking: how caring is Scotland’s approach to energy retrofit?

ORCID iDs

Cairns, Iain ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0753-9589, Verhoeven, G. Arno, Bolton, Ciara, Ibrahim, Azlizawati, Miller, Emma C., Zeinali, Shahrzad ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0003-1193-8635, Hannon, Matthew ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7811-3991 and Carter, Kate;
CORE (COnnecting REpositories)