Transforming Housing Retrofit: The Potential Impact of Artificial Intelligence

Panakaduwa, Chamara; Coates, Paul; Munir, Mustapha

Abstract

80% of the housing stock by 2050 in the UK has already been built. Currently, the UK housing stock contributes 18% of the total UK emissions. Due to the legal requirement of the UK government to achieve net zero by 2050, the housing stock poses a considerable challenge to achieve this objective. Accordingly, reducing the energy demand of the housing stock through sustainable retrofit is a key priority. However, various reasons have been slowing down the progress of housing retrofit in the UK. Artificial intelligence [AI] has become a contemporary buzzword due to the emergence of GPT and its use in different industries. Considering the above, this study first sets out to identify how AI can establish improvements in current processes. Secondly, it identifies what areas can be best optimised with AI. A literature review was conducted to establish the existing retrofit processes and to understand the potential of AI. Thereafter, an empirical study was conducted using semi-structured interviews with software engineers involved in AI to find the potential of AI in housing retrofit. The findings of the study mainly benefit policymakers, homeowners, retrofit professionals and construction companies. Considering the dire need to push housing retrofit forward to achieve Net Zero goals, this study can be helpful in developing ideas. However, this study will show only the possible directions for driving retrofit, not an exact solution. The literature suggests that the benefits of housing retrofit are for both the homeowners and the society. Although the benefits to the homeowners are set aside, it is not possible to ignore the sustainability purpose of retrofit as climate change is a documented reality. As the revolution of artificial intelligence is now a reality, the synergy of housing retrofit, and AI is an important opportunity.

• Presentation Conference Type: Conference Paper (published)
• Conference Name: 14th International Conference on Sustainable Built Environment – (ICSBE) 2023
• Start Date: Dec 15, 2023
• End Date: Dec 17, 2023
• Acceptance Date: Dec 15, 2023
• Publication Date: Dec 18, 2024
• Deposit Date: May 20, 2024
• Publisher URL: https://www.kandyconference.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/volume-1-online.pdf