New Public Health Wales research on the links between cold homes and health

Older people and those with health conditions or disabilities are particularly at risk of negative impacts on health and wellbeing linked to living in a colder home, and additional population groups can also be vulnerable, according to new research from Public Health Wales and Bangor University.

Making a series of recommendations regarding the Welsh Government's satisfactory heating regime, the report explores the heating regimes used in homes in Wales during winter, who is at risk of living in colder homes, and the impacts of living in colder homes on health and wellbeing.

Amongst six key recommendations, the report finds that to protect health, homes, or at least commonly used living areas, should be heated to a comfortable temperature no lower than 18°C. Homes with older residents or those with health conditions or disabilities might need to heat their homes to higher than 18°C.