Modeling carbon retrofitting implementation and sustainability performance in existing buildings

Purpose This study aims to investigate how carbon retrofit implementation (CRI) influences sustainability performance in Nigeria’s existing urban building sector, focusing on environmental, operational, economic and human well-being outcomes. It identifies the retrofit elements that most strongly drive performance in a developing urban context. Design/methodology/approach A quantitative survey of 110 built environment professionals was analyzed using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). The model examined the relationships between CRI and four constructs: environmental sustainability performance (ESP), operational efficiency performance (OEP), economic value performance (EVP) and human well-being performance (HWP), assessing both direct and relative effects. Findings CRI significantly and positively influences all four performance dimensions, with the strongest effects on ESP, underscoring retrofitting’s role in reducing emissions and improving environmental quality. CRI also enhances economic value, operational functionality and human well-being, demonstrating that retrofitting delivers integrated environmental, financial, social and functional benefits. The structural model showed strong explanatory power and satisfactory fit. Practical implications Results emphasize the need for broad adoption of retrofit strategies that integrate energy efficiency, sustainable materials and water–waste management. Policymakers and industry stakeholders are encouraged to strengthen incentives, expand professional training and enforce sustainability standards to boost retrofit uptake. Originality/value This study develops and empirically tests an integrated PLS-SEM model to examine how CRI simultaneously influences environmental, economic, operational and human well-being outcomes in existing buildings. The focus on Sub-Saharan Africa is necessary because the region’s building sector is characterized by aging infrastructure, limited retrofit policy frameworks, financial constraints and rapid urbanization, conditions that shape retrofit adoption and sustainability performance differently from those observed in developed economies.