Mapping Research Trends in Residential Construction Retrofitting: A Scientometric Literature Review

Mehdi Amirkhani, Igor Martek and Mark B. Luther
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Mehdi Amirkhani: School of Architecture and Built Environment, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC 3220, Australia
Igor Martek: School of Architecture and Built Environment, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC 3220, Australia
Mark B. Luther: School of Architecture and Built Environment, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC 3220, Australia

Energies, 2021, vol. 14, issue 19, 1-18

Abstract: The world is looking to reduce carbon emissions, prevent global warming, and become more energy sustainable. Despite the various strategies for mitigating climate change, the fact remains that 80% of greenhouse gas emissions are attributable to activities associated with the built environment, and this is where a concentrated focus is needed. Moreover, most buildings are residential, not commercial or industrial. In essence, ways must be found to reduce energy consumption and CO 2 emissions from existing houses and apartments globally if sustainability is to be realised. The recognised way to achieve this is through the retrofitting of existing residential buildings. Studies in this area have increased in recent times, but the extent of the work remains unmapped and undescribed. If further progress is to be made in this field, researchers’ knowledge domain so far must be documented. This literature review delivers that goal. A scientometric evaluation of research on residential retrofitting is here presented. VOSviewer, Gephi, and CiteSpace are the software packages used. Findings identify retrofitting as an emerging theme, taking off only as recently as 2017. The breadth of research is very limited, primarily concerned with calibrating trade-offs between energy costs and thermal comfort. Emerging and new opportunities to expand retrofitting research are identified. Finally, while several journals accommodate publications on this topic, analysis reveals Energy and Buildings to be the significant citation source.

Keywords: residential construction; retrofitting; sustainable construction; literature review; research trends; scientometric review (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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