Sustainability & Society

Introduction

Our work on environmental sustainability is strongly linked to our core focus on social justice. Environmental degradation is often experienced disproportionately by the most disadvantaged communities and, as we transition to a more sustainable, low-carbon society, it is important to find ways to share the benefits across all social groups.

Our team has become an established voice in this field locally, nationally and internationally. We work closely with external organisations, including local authorities, housing providers, the voluntary and community sector, and government. Whilst locally rooted, we are active in a number of national and international partnerships in the UK, Europe and beyond. Our work revolves around the following themes:

• Socio-technical approaches to building retrofit and sustainable energy
• Fuel and energy poverty
• Active travel: walking and cycling
• Greenspace and wellbeing
• Urban food growing

SHUSU is a founder and steering group member of the Fuel Poverty Research Network and a member of the support committee of the Cycling and Society Research Network.

Below are our project reports and other outputs. Our researchers are also active in publishing in academic journals and contributing to research and practice conferences and events. You can find these contributions under their individual staff profiles.

Our Projects

• Plan-B (Noise and Light pollution and its impact on biodiversity) (Horizon Europe project, started 2024)

Sustainable and Active Mobility

• E-scooters in Salford (2021)
• Active Neighbourhoods as ‘Process’ in Greater Manchester (2020-21)
• CARGO PEDAL: Harnessing the potential of e-cargo bikes for urban sustainable transport (2020)
• Healthy Active Cities (2018 – present)
• Bike Share in Greater Manchester (2018)
• Communicating Cycle Training (2014)

Energy and Fuel Poverty

• Greater Manchester Social Housing Quality Fund (Mould and Damp in social housing) (2024)
• Better Housing Better Health (Oxfordshire) (2024)
• Your Home Better Customer Research (Greater Manchester) (2023)
• Moving Together: Fuel Poverty and Social Prescribing in the Outer Hebrides (2020)
• Low-energy Homes in South Australia (2017-2018)
• Eaga Charitable Trust Fuel Poverty Research Library (2017-2019)
• Social Housing Retrofit to Passive House Standard (2017)
• Fuel Poverty and Mental Health (2016)
• Championing energy in Pendleton (2016)
• Green Deal Communities in Greater Manchester (2016)
• Green Deal Go Early in Greater Manchester (2013-2016)
• Engaging Residents in Regeneration: Lessons from Pendleton (2015)
• Barriers to and Drivers of Energy Efficiency in SME’s (2015)
• Resident Engagement Guide: Reducing Water and Energy Use (2014)

Urban Sustainability

• A Care Farm for Salford (2017)

Events

• Sustainable Transport Future seminar series (2018 – present)
• ‘Sustainability as if People Mattered’(2017) held at Islington Mill in Salford on 16th November 2017
• Cycling and Society Symposium (2015)