Helen trained originally in engineering, and enjoys using quantitative skills in the realm of public health. She has worked on the Housing, Insulation and Health; and Housing, Heating and Health studies. She is currently working on the Warm Homes for Elder New Zealanders study.
Publications
Viggers, H. E. (2023). Feeling the chill: New Zealanders and our cold homes (PhD). University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/10523/16172
Awarded Doctoral Degree
Howden-Chapman, P., Crane, J., Keall, M., Pierse, N., Baker, M. G., Cunningham, C., … Aspinall, C., Bennett, J., Bierre, S., … Chisholm, E., Davies, C., Fougere, G., Fraser, B., Fyfe, C., … Halley, C., … Olin, C., Ombler, J., O'Sullivan, K., Pehi, T., Penny, G., … Randal, E., Riggs, L., Robson, B., Ruru, J., Shaw, C., … Teariki, M. A., Telfar Barnard, L., Tiatia, R., … Viggers, H., … Zhang, W. (2023). He Kāinga Oranga: Reflections on 25 years of measuring the improved health, wellbeing and sustainability of healthier housing. Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand. Advance online publication. [Review].
Journal - Research Other
Viggers, H. E., Keall, M., & Howden-Chapman, P. (2022). Towards dwelling energy certification for New Zealand: Normalisation issues. Kōtuitui, 17(2), 206-223. doi: 10.1080/1177083X.2021.1960866
Journal - Research Article
O'Sullivan, K., & Viggers, H. (2021). Six ways to help fix energy hardship in New Zealand. Policy Quarterly, 17(4), 65-72. doi: 10.26686/pq.v17i4.7323
Journal - Research Other
Viggers, H., Keall, M., Howden-Chapman, P., Wickens, K., Ingham, T., Davies, C., … Crane, J. (2019). Effect of an electricity voucher on electricity use. Energy Policy, 134, 110985. doi: 10.1016/j.enpol.2019.110985
Journal - Research Article
Ingham, T., Keall, M., Jones, B., Aldridge, D. R. T., Dowell, A. C., Davies, C., Crane, J., Draper, J. B., Bailey, L. O., Viggers, H., Stanley, T. V., Leadbitter, P., … Howden-Chapman, P. (2019). Damp mouldy housing and early childhood hospital admissions for acute respiratory infection: A case control study. Thorax, 74(9), 849-857. doi: 10.1136/thoraxjnl-2018-212979
Journal - Research Article
O'Sullivan, K. C., Viggers, H., & Howden-Chapman, P. (2018). The value of experience: Including young people in energy poverty research. In N. Simcock, H. Thomson, S. Petrova & S. Bouzarovski (Eds.), Energy poverty and vulnerability: A global perspective. (pp. 188-201). Abingdon, UK: Routledge.
Chapter in Book - Research
Rangiwhetu, L., Pierse, N., Viggers, H., & Howden-Chapman, P. (2018). Cold New Zealand council housing getting an upgrade. Policy Quarterly, 14(2), 65, 73.
Journal - Research Article
Viggers, H., Keall, M., Wickens, K., & Howden-Chapman, P. (2018). Does paying people to keep warm at home work? Proceedings of the 8th International Conference on Energy and Environment of Residential Buildings (ICEERB): Housing Sustainability in Urban Areas. (pp. 28). Retrieved from https://www.otago.ac.nz/iceerb-2018
Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract
Cook, H. and co-signatories, including Aspinall, C., Baker, M., Ball, J., Brewer, N., Cleghorn, C., Cunningham, R., Donovan, S., D'Souza, A., Edwards, R., Fraser, B., Gage, R., Hoek, J., Howden-Chapman, P., Hurley, K., Kvalsvig, A., Kvizhinadze, G., Lawson-Te Aho, K., McIntyre, M. E., Ombler, J., O'Sullivan, K., Pierse, N., Purdie, N., Rangiwhetu, L., Reidy, J., Russel, M., Sarfati, D., Shaw, C., Signal, L., Stanley, J., Thornley, L., Viggers, H., White, M., Wilson, N., and Zhang, W. (2018). Revision of the Abortion Law. Submission to New Zealand Parliament, Wellington, New Zealand. [Government Submission].
Other Research Output
Howden-Chapman, P., Chisholm, E., Telfar Barnard, L., Viggers, H., O'Sullivan, K., Bennett, J., Bierre, S., Preval, N., Randal, E., Tiatia, R., Ombler, J., Amore, K., Rivera-Muñoz, G., … Davies, C., Aspinall, C., Oliver, J., Baker, M., Keall, M., … Crane, J., & Pierse, N. (2017). Housing, energy and health in resilient cities. In P. Howden-Chapman, L. Early & J. Ombler (Eds.), Cities in New Zealand: Preferences, patterns and possibilities. (pp. 95-106). Wellington, New Zealand: Steele Roberts Aotearoa.
Chapter in Book - Research
Viggers, H., Keall, M., Wickens, K., & Howden-Chapman, P. (2017). Increased house size can cancel out the effect of improved insulation on overall heating energy requirements. Energy Policy, 107, 248-257. doi: 10.1016/j.enpol.2017.04.045
Journal - Research Article
O'Sullivan, K., Telfar Barnard, L., Viggers, H., & Howden-Chapman, P. (2016). Child and youth fuel poverty: Assessing the known and unknown. People, Place & Policy, 10(1), 77-87. doi: 10.3351/ppp.0010.0001.0006
Journal - Research Article
Viggers, H., Tiatia, R., & Cunningham, C. (2016). Housing inequalities. The Lens, 2(1), 6-7.
Journal - Research Other
O'Sullivan, K. C., Viggers, H., Howden-Chapman, P., and Waiopehu College Social Action Research Team 2016. (2016, September). Cool at school? Pilot study: Mixed methods action research with youth to investigate the indoor environments of New Zealand classrooms. Verbal presentation at the 4th European Conference on Behaviour and Energy Efficiency (Behave), Coimbra, Portugal.
Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs
Viggers, H. (2016, August). Policy settings, house structure and home warmth. Otago Energy Research Centre (OERC), University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand. [Department Seminar].
Other Research Output
O'Sullivan, K. C., Viggers, H. E., & Howden-Chapman, P. L. (2014). The influence of electricity prepayment meter use on household energy behaviour. Sustainable Cities & Society, 13, 182-191. doi: 10.1016/j.scs.2013.10.004
Journal - Research Article
Viggers, H. (2014). Comparing apples with watermelons: Normalisation methods for dwelling energy use. Proceedings of the Otago Energy Research Centre (OERC) Symposium. (pp. 5). Retrieved from http://www.otago.ac.nz/oerc/
Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract
Viggers, H., Howden-Chapman, P., Crane, J., Ingham, T., Baker, M., & Davies, C. (2014). Warm homes for elder New Zealanders? Proceedings of the New Zealand Population Health Congress: Connecting Communities, Policy and Science. (pp. 48). Retrieved from http://www.pophealthcongress.org.nz/nzphc14/programme/programme
Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract
Viggers, H. (2014, July). Commutability: One person’s active transport home-work travel economic trade-off. Verbal presentation at the 5th NZ Mobilities Symposium: Future mobilities and resilience, Wellington, New Zealand.
Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs
Viggers, H., Howden-Chapman, P., Ingham, T., Chapman, R., Pene, G., Davies, C., … Pierse, N., Wilson, H., Zhang, J., Baker, M., & Crane, J. (2013). Warm homes for older people: Aims and methods of a randomised community-based trial for people with COPD. BMC Public Health, 13, 176. doi: 10.1186/1471-2458-13-176
Journal - Research Article
Amore, K., Viggers, H., Baker, M. G., & Howden-Chapman, P. (2013). Severe housing deprivation: The problem and its measurement. Commissioned by Official Statistics Research. Wellington, New Zealand: He Kainga Oranga/Housing & Health Research Programme, University of Otago. 78p.
Commissioned Report for External Body
Howden-Chapman, P., Viggers, H., Chapman, R., O'Sullivan, K., Telfar Barnard, L., & Lloyd, B. (2012). Tackling cold housing and fuel poverty in New Zealand: A review of policies, research, and health impacts. Energy Policy, 49, 134-142. doi: 10.1016/j.enpol.2011.09.044
Journal - Research Article
Jayatissa, W., Viggers, H., & Howden-Chapman, P. (2012). Monthly average daily solar radiation on Wellington roof tops. Proceedings of the Otago Energy Research Centre (OERC) Symposium. (pp. 10). Retrieved from http://www.otago.ac.nz/oerc/
Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract
Viggers, H., Keall, M., & Howden-Chapman, P. (2012). Home energy index: Pragmatic vs precise. Proceedings of the Otago Energy Research Centre (OERC) Symposium. (pp. 4). Retrieved from http://www.otago.ac.nz/oerc/
Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract
Viggers, H., & Howden-Chapman, P. (2011). Urban form, public transport and mortgagee sales. In K. Witten, W. Abrahamse & K. Stuart (Eds.), Growth misconduct? Avoiding sprawl and improving urban intensification in New Zealand. (pp. 159-178). Wellington, New Zealand: Steele Roberts Aotearoa.
Chapter in Book - Research
Gillespie-Bennett, J., Pierse, N., Wickens, K., Crane, J., Howden-Chapman, P., and the Housing Heating and Health Study Research Team, including Viggers, H., & Lloyd, B. (2011). The respiratory health effects of nitrogen dioxide in children with asthma. European Respiratory Journal, 38, 303-309. doi: 10.1183/09031936.00115409
Journal - Research Article
Viggers, H., Howden-Chapman, P., & Jones, G. (2011). Residential movement in the housing, insulation and health study. Wellington, New Zealand: Centre for Research, Evaluation and Social Assessment (CRESA). 26p.
Commissioned Report for External Body
Free, S., Howden-Chapman, P., Pierse, N., Viggers, H., the Housing, Heating, and Health Study Research Team, including Nicholls, S., Bennett, J., Shields, D., Lloyd, B., Wickens, K., Baker, M., & Crane, J. (2010). More effective home heating reduces school absences for children with asthma. Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health, 64(5), 379-386. doi: 10.1136/jech.2008.086520
Journal - Research Article
Chapman, R., Howden-Chapman, P., Viggers, H., O'Dea, D., & Kennedy, M. (2009). Retrofitting houses with insulation: A cost-benefit analysis of a randomised community trial. Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health, 63(4), 271-277. doi: 10.1136/jech.2007.070037
Journal - Research Article
Howden-Chapman, P., Viggers, H., Chapman, R., O'Dea, D. J., Free, S., & O'Sullivan, K. (2009). Warm homes: Drivers of the demand for heating in the residential sector in New Zealand. Energy Policy, 37(9), 3387-3399. doi: 10.1016/j.enpol.2008.12.023
Journal - Research Article
Viggers, H. E., Howden-Chapman, P. L., and the Warm Homes for Elder New Zealanders Team. (2009). The warm homes for elder New Zealanders study. Proceedings of the New Zealand Public Health Association Annual Conference: Research & Values: The Underpinnings of Public Health Practice. (pp. 50). Retrieved from http://www.pha.org.nz/phaconference.html
Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract
Boulic, M., Fjällström, P., Phipps, R., Cunningham, M., Cleland, D., Pierse, N., Howden-Chapman, P., … Viggers, H., … and the Housing, Heating, and Health Team, including Baker, M., Crane, J., Cunningham, C., Free, S., Gillespie-Bennett, J., Shields, D., & Wickens, K. (2008). Cold homes in New Zealand: Does increasing the heater capacity improve indoor temperatures? Clean Air & Environmental Quality, 42(3), 22-29.
Journal - Research Article
Gillespie-Bennett, J., Pierse, N., Wickens, K., Crane, J., Nicholls, S., Shields, D., … Viggers, H., Baker, M., … Howden-Chapman, P. (2008). Sources of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) in New Zealand homes: Findings from a community randomized controlled trial of heater substitutions. Indoor Air, 18(6), 521-528. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-0668.2008.00554.x
Journal - Research Article
Howden-Chapman, P., Pierse, N., Nicholls, S., Gillespie-Bennett, J., Viggers, H., Cunningham, M., … Free, S., … Lloyd, B., Wickens, K., Shields, D., Baker, M., Cunningham, C., … Crane, J. (2008). Effects of improved home heating on asthma in community dwelling children: Randomised controlled trial. BMJ, 337, 852-855. doi: 10.1136/bmj.a1411
Journal - Research Article
Viggers, H., Howden-Chapman, P., Pierse, N., Gillespie-Bennett, J., Cunningham, M., Phipps, R., & Crane, J. (2008). Effect of installing effective heaters into the homes of asthmatic children. Proceedings of the Population Health Congress. (pp. 50-55). Maroochydore, Australia: Australian Health Promotion Association. [Full Paper]
Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Full paper
Gillespie-Bennett, J., Pierse, N., Wickens, K., Crane, J., Viggers, H., Nicholls, S., & Howden-Chapman, P. (2008, August). Improving indoor air in New Zealand homes: The respiratory health effects of nitrogen dioxide exposure. Verbal presentation at the Indoor Air Conference, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs
Viggers, H., Free, S., Howden-Chapman, P., Day, P., & Pearce, J. (2008). Educational outcomes: Taita and Naenae. Commissioned by Housing New Zealand Corporation. 75p.
Commissioned Report for External Body
Viggers, H., Howden-Chapman, P., Day, P., & Pearce, J. (2008). Community profile and description of place: Taita and Naenae. Commissioned by Housing New Zealand Corporation. 125p.
Commissioned Report for External Body
Howden-Chapman, P., Matheson, A., Crane, J., Viggers, H., Cunningham, M., Blakely, T., … O'Dea, D., Kennedy, M., Baker, M., Waipara, N., … Davie, G. (2007). Effect of insulating existing houses on health inequality: Cluster randomised study in the community. BMJ, 334, 460. doi: 10.1136/bmj.39070.573032.80
Journal - Research Article
Gillespie, J., Howden-Chapman, P., Crane, J., Wickens, K., Pierse, N., Viggers, H., … Housing and Heating Research Team. (2007). Improving the indoor air in New Zealand homes: The respiratory health effects of nitrogen dioxide exposure. Proceedings of the 14th International Union of Air Pollution Prevention and Environmental Protection Associations (IUAPPA) World Congress. Retrieved from http://www.iuappa2007.com/
Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract
Phipps, R., Cunningham, M., Fjällström, P., Boulic, M., Howden-Chapman, P., Crane, J., Baker, M., Viggers, H., Nicholls, S., Lloyd, B., & Chapman, R. (2007). Intensive monitoring of emissions from portable domestic heaters in New Zealand. Proceedings of the 14th International Union of Air Pollution Prevention and Environmental Protection Associations (IUAPPA) World Congress. Retrieved from http://www.iuappa2007.com/
Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract
Howden-Chapman, P., Crane, J., Matheson, A., Viggers, H., Cunningham, M., Blakely, T., O'Dea, D., … Baker, M., & Waipara, N. (2005). Retrofitting houses with insulation to reduce health inequalities: Aims and methods of a clustered, randomised community-based trial. Social Science & Medicine, 61, 2600-2610.
Journal - Research Article
Howden-Chapman, P., Matheson, A., Crane, J., Viggers, H., Cunningham, M., Blakely, T., O'Dea, D., … Baker, M., Waipara, N., Kennedy, M., & Davies, G. (2004). Retrofitting houses with insulation to reduce health inequalities: A community-based randomised trial. Proceedings of the 2nd WHO International Housing and Health Symposium. (pp. 51-59). Europe: WHO. [Full Paper]
Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Full paper