Abstract:
Purpose – The built environment is well known for carbon emission and its impact especially as it pertains to
existing buildings.This has culminated in an increasing need for a retrofit of such buildings.This study details the
development of an artefact for improving the delivery of energy retrofit projects therein to curb these impacts.
Design/methodology/approach – The study utilized a mixed method research design for data collection. In
achieving this, data was collected in three different phases; (1) a pilot study; (2) a juxtaposition of desktop case
studies, live case studies, focus group discussion forum and an expert survey; and (3) a questionnaire survey for
the validation of the emergent artefact. Accordingly, the quantitative data was analysed using descriptive
statistics, whereas qualitative content analysis was deployed for qualitative data.
Findings – The findings enabled an identification of the elements of a building energy retrofit project (BERP)
such as project initiation, building assessment, detailed energy survey, technical analysis and implementation
plans of energy measures, monitoring and verification. Also, it provided the challenges and enablers associated
with successful BERP. This information was subsequently utilized in the development and validation of an
artefact for delivering successful BERP. Summarily, a set of guidelines comprising of seven stages for
managing successful BERPs were elucidated.
Practical implications – The validated artefact provides an adaptive and innovative route for achieving
sustainability in retrofit trade.
Originality/value – The study conceptualizes an artefact for improving the delivery of BERPs.
