From current reality to SDG-driven residential building sector: relationship between retrofit awareness, critical success factors, barriers and implementation

Purpose Despite the significant benefits of passive retrofitting, various dimensions of awareness, critical success factors (CSFs) and barriers have been examined in isolation by past studies. In this study, however, a relationship is drawn amongst the different dimensions of these variables to promote a successful implementation of passive retrofitting of residential buildings in Lagos, Nigeria. Design/methodology/approach A total of 118 property managers and 163 homeowners were surveyed in Lagos State. The direct, mediating and moderating relationships between the variables were analysed using partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM), while the configurational pathways to successful implementation were identified in both groups of stakeholders using fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA). Findings The positive association of the perceived importance of passive measures (PIPM) with both resource management and communication (RMAC: β = 0.600, p < 0.001) and project planning and risk management (PPRM: β = 0.355, p < 0.001) can be highlighted. An increased understanding of retrofit benefits was positively associated with financial support and stakeholder engagement (FSSE: β = 0.464, p < 0.001). Also, awareness of retrofit policies was found to be positively associated with PPRM (β = 0.355, p < 0.001) and regulatory compliance and expert involvement (RCEI: β = 0.311, p < 0.001). Amongst all the implementation enabling factors, only RMAC had a weak positive relationship (β = 0.351, p < 0.054). Conversely, for homeowners, PIPM was positively associated with professional expertise and knowledge management (β = 0.328, p < 0.001), PPRM (β = 0.349, p < 0.001) and RMAC (β = 0.377, p < 0.001). Awareness of retrofit benefits (ARB) was positively associated with FSSE (β = 0.277, p < 0.001) and PPRM (β = 0.239, p < 0.016). Furthermore, PPRM (β = 0.382, p < 0.001) and RCEI (β = 0.315, p = 0.005) were positively associated with retrofit implementation intention. The fsQCA results revealed 16 configurational pathways for managers and eight for homeowners. For managers, the minimal presence of institutional/awareness and technical/planning barriers (∼iac, ∼tpc) could be offset by other facilitating conditions. For homeowners, ARB was consistently present in all configurations; PPRM and RCEI were present in most pathways, meaning they compensate for the absence of financial support/stakeholder engagement and RMAC in several pathways. Practical implications Property managers need to improve on the management of resources and communication rather than finding solutions solely in financial instruments. Homeowners can be motivated to retrofit their buildings if financial incentives are guaranteed, professional advice is provided and community-based approaches are used, since mere awareness does not guarantee that action will be taken. Originality/value To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this research is the first empirical attempt to integrate retrofit benefits, policy awareness, perceived importance of measures, CSFs and barriers into a single framework using a two-stakeholder approach in Sub-Saharan Africa, showing that the success of retrofit implementation is not only additive but also configurational.