Householders’ energy efficiency retrofit decisions – A review of the evidence

McGinley, Orlaith, Moran, Paul, Haines, Victoria, & Goggins, Jamie. (2025). Householders’ energy efficiency retrofit decisions – A review of the evidence. Journal of Building Engineering, 114, 113838. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jobe.2025.113838

Abstract

Improving the energy efficiency of existing buildings through retrofitting is a challenge facing many countries. The European Commission's Renovation Wave Strategy proposes to double the annual energy retrofit rate of European residential buildings by 2030. Understanding householders' retrofit decision-making processes will help determine how to enable widescale retrofit uptake. A critical review of 164 studies was undertaken to (i) identify the factors which can influence retrofit decision-making, (ii) discuss the consistency of existing literature findings regarding the influence of factors on retrofit decision-making, (iii) add to existing literature by critiquing the evidence base, to identify the limitations of existing research on retrofit decision-making, and (iv) identify future research directions. 96 factors were identified as influences on retrofit decision-making. However, the paper found that the influence of many of these factors on householders' retrofit decision-making is understudied. In addition, the literature findings on the influence of many of these factors on retrofit decision-making are of mixed consistency. The influence of these factors varied depending on the dwelling, householder and household in question, the retrofit measures being considered or adopted, and depending on the stage of the retrofit decision-making process. However, this level of analysis is often missing in existing literature. Future research is needed that aims to understand the diverse range of influences on householders' retrofit decision-making, including how the influence changes depending on the householder, household or dwelling in question, depending on the retrofit measures being considered, planned, or adopted, and depending on the stage in the retrofit decision-making process.

Funder

European Union
Science Foundation Ireland
MaREI Centre
Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI)

Publisher

Elsevier

Rights

CC BY

cb

Collections

Civil Engineering (Scholarly Articles)