Overview

Ireland’s decarbonisation journey depends not just on renewable energy, but on transforming the buildings we live in. With 1.5 million homes needing upgrades and climate targets tightening, how do we scale retrofit in a way that is affordable, data-driven, and socially equitable?

In this episode, Xavier Dubuisson, CEO of RetroKit and one of Ireland’s most experienced sustainable-energy engineers, explains how climate-tech, BER data, and community-level action can unlock real progress. From designing national policy in the early 2000s to building one of Ireland’s leading retrofit-planning platforms, Xavier shares what’s working, what isn’t, and what still needs to change.

Listen Now

Watch on YouTube: The Energy Canvas – YouTube Channel
Listen on Spotify: The Energy Canvas on Spotify
Listen on Apple Podcasts: The Energy Canvas on Apple Podcasts

What We Cover

• How RetroKit uses BER and DEC data to model housing upgrades and long-term investment needs

• Why Xavier moved to Ireland in 2001 and how he helped shape early renewable-energy policy

• The “missing tools” in energy efficiency modelling that sparked RetroKit’s creation

• Why affordability, supply-chain capacity, and public understanding remain major barriers

• How social housing providers are using data and digital planning to accelerate retrofit

• The role of community advisory hubs in building trust and guiding households

• What an ideal retrofit ecosystem looks like, from funding to design standards to delivery

• Why climate ambition is fragile, and why strong leadership matters more than ever

Key Takeaways

Retrofit is a data challenge as much as a construction challenge.

BER and DEC data give planners a clear picture of housing performance, cost pathways, and realistic upgrade scenarios.

Affordability is the biggest bottleneck.

Even with grants, deep retrofit remains out of reach for many homeowners and some local authorities.

Community action works.

Trusted local advisors, not just national schemes, help households understand, plan, and commit to retrofits.

Social housing is leading the way.

Large portfolios allow for strategic planning, long-term investment modelling, and repeatable delivery frameworks.

Climate ambition must be protected.

Political and economic shifts risk stalling momentum, despite urgent climate signals already visible.

Guest: Xavier Dubuisson

Xavier is the CEO of RetroKit and an energy engineer with over 25 years of sustainable energy experience across Ireland and Belgium. After moving to Ireland in 2001 to work with SEAI’s Renewable Energy Information Office, he played a key role in developing early policies like the Greener Homes Scheme and House of Tomorrow.

His mission today is to digitise and scale retrofit planning across Ireland and Europe using climate-tech tools built for data accuracy, strategic investment modelling, and community impact.

Connect with Xavier:
LinkedIn
RetroKit

Memorable Quotes

“There were very few tools for energy efficiency… renewable modelling was well established, but for efficiency there was almost nothing.”

“We’re not hitting 50,000 deep retrofits a year. Cost is the biggest barrier, affordability is critical.”

“In the context of climate change, it’s already here. Give us another 10–20 years, it’s going to be catastrophic. We can’t delay action or reduce ambition.”

Ireland’s Retrofit Challenge: Data, Systems & Social Impact

Retrofit is more than insulation and heat pumps, it’s a systems challenge. Xavier explains how Ireland’s fragmented ecosystem creates friction:

• Homeowners often don’t know where to start.

• Housing bodies struggle with large data sets and long-term planning.

• Funding streams shift year to year, creating uncertainty.

• Supply chains can’t scale without predictable demand.

RetroKit addresses these problems by combining data management, scenario modelling, cost analysis, and procurement tools into one planning platform. For local authorities and housing associations, this turns retrofit from guesswork into a clear, structured investment pathway.

But technology alone isn’t enough. Xavier highlights the need for community-based retrofit hubs, trusted local advisors who help households understand options, navigate grant processes, and engage confidently with contractors.

In short: scaling retrofit requires climate tech, but also social trust.