The quality of housing has major implications for people’s health. Poor housing is associated with a wide range of health conditions such as respiratory diseases including asthma, cardiovascular diseases, injuries, mental health and infectious diseases including tuberculosis, influenza and diarrhoea. .

Household air pollution caused by smoke from burning solid fuels for cooking is a major source of mortality and morbidity in India. Recent studies estimate that it is also a major contributor to outdoor pollution in addition to contributing to four of the five leading causes of mortality and morbidity.

The Household Energy Assessment Rapid Tool (HEART) was developed by WHO and is being pilot-tested for use in conducting rapid situational assessments and stakeholder mapping of a country’s readiness to address access to clean energy technologies.