Smart retrofitting for building energy, environment and resilience (BEER) : a validated systematic literature review addressing emerging needs and research directions

Abstract

Smart retrofitting (SR) has gained recognition as a strategic approach that leverages smart technologies to improve the performance of buildings. However, current research remains limited in addressing the evolving priorities of SR needs for enhancing the integrated building energy, environment and resilience (BEER) performance. To address this gap, a multi-method systematic review was conducted, combining bibliometric analysis, qualitative synthesis and industry validation to identify and prioritise emerging needs and research directions for SR. From Scopus and Web of Science, 208 relevant publications were retrieved for bibliometric analysis. Subsequently, 102 publications were selected for an in-depth qualitative review, from which five key research areas were revealed: (1) SR for building and occupant well-being, (2) decision-making and performance evaluation in SR implementation, (3) cross-disciplinary considerations in SR, (4) SR for resilience and risk mitigation against disasters, and (5) advanced technologies in SR decision-making. These areas encompass 16 research directions, which were validated by an industry survey in Hong Kong. The survey findings also informed the prioritised SR needs using a quantitative prioritisation design. It provides a clear roadmap for advancing research that enhances BEER performance and contributes to sustainable buildings.