MEASURING RESIDENTS' INTENTION TO ENERGY RETROFIT EXISTING RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS: SCALE DEVELOPMENT AND VALIDATION

Residential building energy retrofitting (RBER) is essential for enhancing energy efficiency in homes. The intention of residents to undertake energy retrofits has increasingly attracted the attention of governments and construction firms. This study develops and tests a multidimensional Residential Building Energy Retrofit Intention Scale (RBERIS) to identify the critical dimensions influencing residents' intentions to adopt energy retrofit technologies for improving the energy efficiency of their existing homes. Drawing on literature related to scale development and measurement theory, we created a 22-item, 4-dimensional scale encompassing retrofit motivation, attitude, subjective norms, and perceived behavioural control, supported by evidence of unidimensionality (all factor loadings >0.5) and reliability (Cronbach's α >0.7). The RBERIS reliably and effectively assesses residents' intentions to undertake RBER, assisting building energy retrofit companies and promoters in formulating development strategies and offering new insights into understanding these behavioural intentions. Future research directions are also discussed.