Teasa: Techno-Anthropology of heat in Social housing Retrofits

Project  “Teasa” examines community dissatisfaction with energy-efficiency retrofit measures in Cork City, Ireland, from a techno-anthropological perspective. Researchers at University College Cork investigate whether the issues stem from technical shortcomings or rather from social and experiential factors, such as the residents’ willingness to accept new technologies and their overall user experience.

The project aims to understand why some retrofit solutions fail to create the expected sense of comfort, highlighting the distinction between measurable thermal energy and the perceived feeling of “cosiness” in the home. By integrating stakeholders’ lived experiences with technical data, the project seeks to develop evidence-based best practice frameworks that will support more effective, socially acceptable, and sustainable retrofit solutions in the future.

In May 2026, researchers from University College Cork visited Tartu as part of a study trip to learn how technologically complex renovation processes have unfolded in Tartu apartment buildings, and how the Institute of Baltic Studies (IBS), together with local partners, has approached resident engagement in various renovation and urban regeneration projects (SmartEnCity, oPEN Lab, ClimaGen).

A return study visit by researchers from the City of Tartu and IBS to Cork will take place in autumn 2026.