Document Type

Conference Paper

Disciplines

Environmental sciences, 2. ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY, Architecture engineering, Construction engineering, Social sciences, Interdisciplinary

Publication Details

Presented as part of conference proceedings of the 10th International Congress on Architectural Technology (ICAT 2024) held in Atlantic Technological University (ATU), Galway, Ireland on the 19th of January 2024.

doi:10.21427/8vw5-re53

Abstract

A qualitative approach was taken to investigate the role of design professionals in the energy retrofit of external wall insulation to dwellings in Ireland. The research method combines document analysis with semi structured interviews. Document analysis is used to both inform the questions for the interviews and for validation. The SEAI One Stop Shop grant scheme and PAS 2035 framework were selected for detailed document analysis to gain an understanding of the context in which design professionals are working in Ireland and compare it to the energy retrofit framework in the United Kingdom. This was investigated by mapping the data using an online visual whiteboarding platform from which the findings were presented and the questions for the interviews extrapolated. The semi-structured interviews were used to understand the experience of design professionals and their roles in energy retrofit. From the interviews a thematic analysis was carried out; the interview findings were presented; and the conclusions drawn and verified. One of the key findings was that when it comes to energy retrofit the role of the design professional is not clearly defined in Ireland and that if anything they are omitted from the energy efficiency grant application process. An energy retrofit framework like PAS 2035 would be worth exploring in the Irish context as it provides clear roles and responsibilities and associated minimum qualifications.

DOI

https://doi.org/10.21427/8vw5-re53

Funder

This research received no external funding

Creative Commons License

Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International License.

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