Exploring The Impact of Design Professionals on the Energy Retrofit of Dwellings in Ireland: A Qualitative Methodology

Research in the areas of building science tends to be quantitative in nature however qualitative research brings a depth of information that is more human centered. Here a qualitative research 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, in this case, is used to both help inform the questions for the interviews and as a means for validation. The SEAI One Stop Shop grant scheme and PAS 2035framework were selected for detailed document analysis to gain a better 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 the online visual whiteboarding cloud-based platform MIRO and from that the findings are presented and the questions for the interviews were extrapolated. The semi-structured interviews were used to further understand the experience of design professionals in Ireland 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 research 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 further in the Irish context as it provides clear roles and responsibilities and associated minimum qualifications.