Dear Colleagues,

The building sector continues to be a pivotal player in the ongoing energy and sustainability transition. On one hand, there is a persistent increase in the overall energy demand of buildings. On the other hand, scientific and technological advancements are yielding excellent results in enhancing building energy efficiency. The aspiration for a building stock with minimal energy consumption and environmental impact has experienced periodic comebacks over several decades. Concepts such as zero-energy building (ZEB), carbon-neutral building, positive energy building (PEB), or zero-emission building have been explored over the years, maintaining their relevance. However, the evolution of these concepts, aligned with recent policies and future scenarios, remains a pressing and contemporary concern.

Against this backdrop, this Special Issue aims to delve into the perspectives of high-energy-performance buildings that will shape sustainable development and transition in the forthcoming years.

To accomplish these objectives, the Special Issue seeks to:

• Explore novel definitions of zero-energy/zero-emission buildings.
• Understand how passive solutions, sustainable envelope components, and emerging renewable technologies can be integrated into buildings.
• Analyze the influence and potential of districts in fostering energy sharing and flexibility.
• Investigate the application of AI-based technologies in supporting the design of sustainable buildings.
• Examine whether the goal of achieving net-zero energy/emission is a utopian ideal or a realistic possibility.

This Special Issue invites contributions that critically engage with these themes, providing insights and advancements that contribute to the discourse on the future of zero-energy, low-impact buildings. We welcome rigorous research, innovative methodologies, and practical applications that address the challenges and opportunities in this dynamic field. Researchers and practitioners are encouraged to submit papers that deepen our understanding of the complexities involved and pave the way for sustainable and energy-efficient building practices in the years to come.

Dr. Matteo Bilardo
Dr. Francesca Contrada
Dr. Giovanni Francesco Giuzio
Dr. Stefania Guarino
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Buildings is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

• zero-energy buildings
• low-impact construction
• net-zero energy
• carbon-neutral design
• innovative building practices
• future building scenarios
• artificial intelligence in building design