B.E (Hons), DPH, GradDipApplStat
Research Fellow; HHRP
PhD student
Contact Details
Tel: +64 4 385 5541 ext 6847
Fax: +64 4 389 5319
Email: helen.viggers@otago.ac.nz
Research Interests and Activities
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
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
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
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.
Rangiwhetu, L., Pierse, N., Viggers, H., & Howden-Chapman, P. (2018). Cold New Zealand council housing getting an upgrade. Policy Quarterly, 14(2), 65, 73.
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
Commissioned Report for External Body
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.
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.
Viggers, H., Free, S., Howden-Chapman, P., Day, P., & Pearce, J. (2008). Educational outcomes: Taita and Naenae. Commissioned by Housing New Zealand Corporation. 75p.
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.
Other Research Output
Viggers, H. (2016, August). Policy settings, house structure and home warmth. Otago Energy Research Centre (OERC), University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand. [Research Seminar].
Chapter in Book - Research
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.
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.
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.
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
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
Rangiwhetu, L., Pierse, N., Viggers, H., & Howden-Chapman, P. (2018). Cold New Zealand council housing getting an upgrade. Policy Quarterly, 14(2), 65, 73.
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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.
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
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 Other
Viggers, H., Tiatia, R., & Cunningham, C. (2016). Housing inequalities. The Lens, 2(1), 6-7.
Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Full paper
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]
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: Abstract
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
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/
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
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/
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/
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
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/
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 - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs
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.
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.
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.
