CHAPTER 4: RESULTS AND
DISCUSSION
Renewable Energy
Integration in Building
Design and Construction
STUDY OVERVIEW
• NoQR = 95. Data processed in
SPSS 25. Analysis covers
demographics, research
questions, and key findings.
RESEARCH QUESTIONS
• 1. Challenges of integrating
renewable energy into building
design and construction.
• 2. Effects of inadequate integration
on design and construction.
• 3. Strategies for improving
integration in building projects.
DEMOGRAPHICS: GENDER
Gender highlights
Distribution reflects active industry participants.
Findings apply to a skilled sample.
Context supports interpretation of RQ results.
DEMOGRAPHICS: AGE
Age highlights
Distribution reflects active industry participants.
Findings apply to a skilled sample.
Context supports interpretation of RQ results.
DEMOGRAPHICS: EDUCATION
Education highlights
Distribution reflects active industry participants.
Findings apply to a skilled sample.
Context supports interpretation of RQ results.
DEMOGRAPHICS: PROFESSION
Profession highlights
Distribution reflects active industry participants.
Findings apply to a skilled sample.
Context supports interpretation of RQ results.
DEMOGRAPHICS: EXPERIENCE
Experience highlights
Distribution reflects active industry participants.
Findings apply to a skilled sample.
Context supports interpretation of RQ results.
DEMOGRAPHICS: ORGANIZATION
Organization highlights
Distribution reflects active industry participants.
Findings apply to a skilled sample.
Context supports interpretation of RQ results.
RQ1: CHALLENGES — MEAN SCORES
Challenge Mean
Lack of awareness among 3.87
stakeholders
Maintenance costs and 3.98
complexity
Visual or aesthetic concerns 4.01
Lack of technical expertise 4.03
High initial cost 4.08
Compatibility issues with 4.08
older infrastructure
Energy storage systems too 4.11
expensive
Inadequate government 4.12
incentives or subsidies
Existing codes and policies do 4.13
not favor integration
Variable nature of solar/wind 4.14
unreliable without storage
RQ1: CHALLENGES — CHART
RQ1: WHAT THE CHART SHOWS
• Overall agreement on challenges. OMS =
4.06.
• Top signals. Intermittency without
storage. Unfavorable codes. Weak
incentives. Storage cost.
• Cost and policy pressures sit above
awareness and aesthetics.
• Technical skill gap ranks lower, yet still
above neutral.
RQ2: EFFECTS — MEAN SCORES
Effect Mean
Missed access to government 3.69
incentives
Failure to meet modern 3.77
standards or codes
Higher carbon emissions 3.78
Reduced property value 3.83
Poor indoor air quality and 3.88
occupant comfort
Increased operating and 3.88
energy costs
Reduced building energy 3.99
efficiency
Greater reliance on fossil 4.16
fuels
RQ2: EFFECTS — CHART
RQ2: WHAT THE CHART SHOWS
• OMS = 3.87. Agreement sits close to
agree.
• Top effect. Greater reliance on fossil fuels.
• Efficiency loss, comfort issues, and higher
bills cluster next.
• Standards compliance and incentives loss
sit lowest, yet remain above neutral.
RQ3: STRATEGIES — MEAN SCORES
Strategy Mean
Use public–private 3.76
partnerships for promotion
Review and improve building 3.81
codes for sustainability
Offer professional training on 3.84
integration
Incentivize retrofitting of 3.91
existing buildings
Encourage building- 3.93
integrated photovoltaics
Provide government grants or 4.01
subsidies
Invest in energy storage and 4.02
battery solutions
Include renewable energy 4.17
early in design planning
RQ3: STRATEGIES — CHART
RQ3: WHAT THE CHART SHOWS
• OMS = 3.93. Responses favor action.
• Top signal. Early design inclusion ranks first at
4.17.
• Storage investment and subsidies follow.
• BIPV and retrofitting draw support near 3.9.
• Training and code reviews track close behind.
PPPs close the list.
LINKING BARRIERS TO ACTIONS
• Intermittency and storage barrier → Invest in
storage solutions.
• Unfavorable codes and policy → Review and
improve codes.
• Weak incentives → Provide grants and subsidies.
• High upfront cost → Incentives and early design
planning.
• Skill gaps → Professional training.
• Legacy buildings → Retrofitting and BIPV.
SUMMARY
• Barriers concentrate around storage,
cost, and policy.
• Insufficient integration pushes projects
toward fossil use and lower efficiency.
• Early design planning plus funding and
storage offers the strongest pathway
forward.