Abstract
<jats:p>The Retrofit Reality: A Longitudinal Meta Analysis of Energy Performance Gaps in Adaptive Reuse emerges from the urgent global conversation surrounding urban growth, resource depletion, and heritage. While adaptive reuse is widely celebrated for preserving embodied carbon and cultural heritage, far less attention has been given to the operational realities that unfold after renovation. This monograph investigates whether retrofitted buildings truly perform as predicted and if design promises translate into measurable energy efficiency over time. Moving beyond symbolic sustainability claims, this work meticulously explores the measurable gap between intended and actual performance through a rigorous, forward-looking lens. By focusing on longitudinal evidence, the authors illuminate how retrofitted buildings behave not only at handover but throughout years of occupation. This essential volume provides clarity to researchers, policymakers, architects, engineers, and facility managers, emphasizing that sustainable futures require honest buildings, not merely beautiful intentions.</jats:p>