Abstract
This research explores socio-spatial characteristics of home retrofit projects in New York State and their association with the state’s free home energy audit program. Prior work by the authors found that zip codes with more elder individuals and higher levels of education are more likely to undertake an energy audit; it was also found that higher incomes may be negatively correlated with audit decisions. Less understood is the follow-up decision after an audit to undertake a retrofit. From a policy and climate perspective, the actionable retrofit decision is far more impactful than the informational audit, making it an important area of further research. This work examines this understudied area using a combination of datasets, including census data, American Community Survey (ACS) data, and retrofits data provided by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA). Findings indicate that many of the same socioeconomic characteristics that predict audits are influential in retrofit projects as well (age, education, higher home values). A strong statistical relationship was found between audits per capita and subsequent retrofit projects, which is to be expected, as NYSERDA requires audits of residents desiring efficiency retrofits. However, this also indicates that the role of the audit in information transfers may be highly influential in encouraging home energy efficiency projects. This finding underscores the policy importance of offering low- or no-cost energy audit incentives to encourage greater participation in home retrofit programs.
Highlights
As global energy consumption continues its upward trajectory, the built environment remains a key target for policies, new technologies and innovations, and other actions to advance a global agenda for the sustainable production of energy on the supply side and its sustainable consumption by occupants on the demand side
This indicates that the role of the audit in information transfers may be highly influential in encouraging home energy efficiency projects
To develop knowledge in this area, this present study focuses on the link between the energy audit and the home retrofit project in the State of New York
Summary
As global energy consumption continues its upward trajectory, the built environment remains a key target for policies, new technologies and innovations, and other actions to advance a global agenda for the sustainable production of energy on the supply side and its sustainable consumption by occupants on the demand side. Buildings remain a challenge because they have inherently long lifespans, which leads to the slow turnover of stock and resistance to transformative industry change [1,2]. The building and construction industry is highly fragmented, consisting of many small installers, contractors, and engineers located in various jurisdictions, complicating the policy landscape [3]. If clean energy schemes can be planned for early on in the design stage, sustainable consumption in buildings could advance considerably [4]. The built environment rarely affords designers and engineers the opportunity to work from a clean slate due to the large stock of existing buildings; existing buildings are crucial targets in any initiative to reduce built environment energy consumption. Cost savings from energy efficiency retrofits are often clear, but these economic drivers are often not convincing enough to encourage adoption among owners and developers [5]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
