Delivered by Indoor Air Aware, the campaign democratising access to healthy indoor environments, and funded by Energy Action Scotland, the year-long pilot project will assist fuel-poor households in preventing and safely remediating areas affected by mould and damp at home.

The project aims to address the critical issue of condensation, damp and mould in homes, specifically targeting fuel-poor households with preschool-aged children in Scotland.

This innovative pilot will focus on a selection of households living in social rented, private rented and owned housing, providing them with proactive solutions to prevent mould and damp from affecting their living conditions. The initiative enables Indoor Air Aware to act on its mission to improve indoor air quality and the health and wellbeing of families.

The project pilot will involve home visits to assess the efficiency of the fabric and physics of buildings, ventilation and heating systems, and the provision of tailored guidance on household activities like drying clothes and showering - two of the main causes of moisture resulting in mould growth.

As part of the pilot, each household has been equipped with two smart air monitoring devices, coupled with a user-friendly app. A team of expert advisors at Indoor Air Aware will remotely monitor each environment and provide guidance on where improvements can be made. The energy consumed to heat each property will also be tracked.

To track progress, each participating household will regularly complete surveys to record the physical condition of their home in relation to condensation, dampness and mould and share their experiences after putting new measures and behaviour changes in place.

The health of all residents will also be tracked during the pilot to identify how the improved environment impacts each resident’s level of health.

The project will run for 12 months, culminating in a final report that will outline the findings and effectiveness of the initiative and interventions.

Lisa Malyon, founder of Indoor Air Aware, said: “The steep, sustained rise in energy costs has led to underheated homes which has exacerbated the UK’s mould epidemic. Living with mould can have a detrimental and often irreversible impact on people’s health - especially children whose lungs are still developing. The chemistry and physics behind why mould grows in our homes is complex, so this pilot is designed to educate households on the causes, and how to prevent mould and damp.

“We are incredibly grateful to Energy Action Scotland for funding this pilot project, which has the potential to be life-changing for those who take part.”

Frazer Scott, CEO of Energy Action Scotland, added: “Cold, occupied homes are a breeding ground for mould, so we really welcome the opportunity to learn more through this work with Lisa and Indoor Air Aware. If we equip households with the knowledge of heat, air and ventilation, we can all combat the causes of mould growth and protect ourselves and improve our health. We look forward to sharing the outcome of the pilot.”