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World Renewable Energy Congress 2023 (WREC2023)—Towards Net Zero Buildings
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World Renewable Energy Congress 2023 (WREC2023)—Towards Net Zero Buildings

A special issue of Buildings (ISSN 2075-5309). This special issue belongs to the section "Building Energy, Physics, Environment, and Systems".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 January 2024) | Viewed by 2836

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Chin Haw Lim

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Solar Energy Research Institute, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Bangi 43600, Selangor, Malaysia
Interests: passive and low energy architecture; Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD); natural ventilation; Building Integrated Photovoltaic System (BIPV) and Solar Assisted Air-Conditioning System
Dr. Hasila Jarimi

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Solar Energy Research Institute, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Bangi 43600, Selangor, Malaysia
Interests: sustainable energy technologies (solar thermal storage; solar-assisted cooling and heating); low-energy architecture (advanced glazing technology); sustainable energy technology in agriculture
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Puvaneswaran Chelvanathan

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Solar Energy Research Institute (SERI), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Bangi 43600, Selangor, Malaysia
Interests: thin film photovoltaic technology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

You are cordially invited to contribute to this Special Issue of Buildings entitled “World Renewable Energy Congress 2023 (WREC2023)—Towards Net Zero Buildings”. In recent years, a plethora of new emerging green building technologies are being investigated and adapted worldwide. However, not all technologies are well grasped in terms of its suitability to various climatic conditions. Moreover, with the current rise in global warming and its impact to the overall well-being of the planet, now is the time whereby these technologies, especially passive and low energy architecture are put to efficient use. With the aforesaid aim this Special Issue aims to cover recent trends and the latest research advances in the field of Bioclimatic Architecture, Decarbonizing Cities & Regions, Passive & Low Energy Architecture, Construction & Design, Smart Cities & Smart Grids, Zero Carbon Urban Design, Thermal Comfort, Energy Audit in Building, Building Energy Management, Building Integrated Photovoltaic System (BIPV).

In particular, topics include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Green Buildings
  • Low Carbon Buildings
  • Green Materials for Construction
  • Smart Energy Cities
  • Indoor Environment Quality (IEQ)
  • Renewable Energy Technologies

Prof. Dr. Chin Haw Lim
Dr. Hasila Jarimi
Dr. Puvaneswaran Chelvanathan
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.

Keywords

  • bioclimatic architecture
  • decarbonizing cities & regions
  • passive & low energy architecture
  • construction & design
  • smart cities & smart grids
  • zero carbon urban design
  • thermal comfort
  • energy audit in building
  • building energy management
  • building integrated photovoltaic system (BIPV)

Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

12 pages, 4543 KiB  
Article
Mitigating the Energy Consumption and Carbon Emissions of a Residential Area in a Tropical City Using Digital Twin Technology: A Case Study of Bertam, Penang
by Nur Haziqah Mohamad Zaidi, Chin Haw Lim and Halim Razali
Buildings 2024, 14(3), 638; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings14030638 - 29 Feb 2024
Viewed by 542
Abstract
As of 2022, roughly 79.8% of Malaysia’s population resides in urban areas, increasing the population density of its cities. The hot and humid climate in Malaysia necessitates the constant use of air conditioning, especially in cities, resulting in high residential electric consumption and [...] Read more.
As of 2022, roughly 79.8% of Malaysia’s population resides in urban areas, increasing the population density of its cities. The hot and humid climate in Malaysia necessitates the constant use of air conditioning, especially in cities, resulting in high residential electric consumption and carbon emissions. The residential sector significantly contributes to global climate change, accounting for 27% of global energy consumption and 17% of carbon emissions. To address this concern, the local framework of the National Low Carbon Cities Masterplan (NLCCM) is advocating for a minimum 33% reduction in carbon emissions by 2030 in urban settings, aligning with the commitments made at the 15th Conference of Parties (COP 15). The aim of this study was to determine the energy consumption and carbon emission of residential areas in a tropical city, as well as explore potential energy and carbon savings. Utilizing the Intelligent Communities Lifecycle–Intelligent Community Design (iCL-iCD) energy simulation software, a digital twin of Bertam City, Penang, was developed. This digital model included 65.4% residential housing, which, in the specific scenario under study, accounted for 36% of the city’s electrical energy consumption for cooling purposes only. An early simulation of the residential areas of the city estimated the baseline energy consumption and carbon emissions to be 607 GWh and 314,736 tCO2e, respectively. Several energy-efficient measures were applied to the residential area of Bertam City, revealing a potential saving of 37.3% in both energy and carbon emissions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue World Renewable Energy Congress 2023 (WREC2023)—Towards Net Zero Buildings)
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20 pages, 12909 KiB  
Article
Thermal Performance of Residential Roofs in Malaysia: Experimental Study Using an Indoor Solar Simulator
by Muhamad Zahin Mohd Ashhar and Chin Haw Lim
Buildings 2024, 14(1), 178; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings14010178 - 10 Jan 2024
Viewed by 969
Abstract
Previous researchers have detailed the problems in measuring the thermal resistance value of a whole roof assembly under hot conditions due to the uncertainty of the outdoor environment. Currently, no established method exists to experimentally investigate an entire thermal roof performance under a [...] Read more.
Previous researchers have detailed the problems in measuring the thermal resistance value of a whole roof assembly under hot conditions due to the uncertainty of the outdoor environment. Currently, no established method exists to experimentally investigate an entire thermal roof performance under a steady-state condition. This article details the properties of the indoor solar simulator and the research methods undertaken to measure the thermal resistance value of roof assembly. The indoor solar simulator utilizes 40 halogen bulbs to accurately replicate sun radiation. Thermocouples and heat flux sensors are installed at several locations on the roof assembly to quantify the heat transmission occurring through it. The thermal resistance value is determined by adding up the average difference in temperature across the external and internal roof surfaces and dividing the total amount by the total of all averaged heat fluxes. Subsequently, this study investigates the thermal efficiency of residential roof assemblies that comprise various insulation materials frequently employed in Malaysia, including stone wool, mineral glass wool, reflective bubble foil insulation, and radiant barriers. The analysis showed that the roof configurations with bubble foil reflective insulation produce superior thermal resistance values when coupled with enclosed air space or mass insulation, with thermal resistance values ranging between 2.55 m2K/W and 3.22 m2K/W. It can be concluded that roof configurations with bubble foil reflective insulation resulted in high total thermal resistance and passed the minimum thermal resistance value of 2.5 m2K/W under the Malaysian Uniform Building By-Law 38 (A) requirements. Furthermore, the radiant barrier produced a high thermal resistance value of 2.50 m2K/W when installed parallel to a 50 mm enclosed air space, emphasising the crucial function of an enclosed air space next to a reflective foil to resist the incoming heat radiation. The findings from this research can help building professionals determine the optimum insulation for residential building roofs in Malaysia. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue World Renewable Energy Congress 2023 (WREC2023)—Towards Net Zero Buildings)
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17 pages, 5733 KiB  
Article
Enhancing Thermal Efficiency through the Use of Graphite-Infused Phase Change Materials in Roof Structures to Reduce Building Cooling Demand
by Chanita Mano, Ahmad Fazlizan and Atthakorn Thongtha
Buildings 2024, 14(1), 68; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings14010068 - 26 Dec 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 896
Abstract
This research focuses on the thermal properties of three distinctive paraffin waxes—PCMA, PCMB, and PCMC—each characterized by a specific melting point. The crucial phase transition temperature intervals and latent heat values were examined using differential scanning calorimetry [...] Read more.
This research focuses on the thermal properties of three distinctive paraffin waxes—PCMA, PCMB, and PCMC—each characterized by a specific melting point. The crucial phase transition temperature intervals and latent heat values were examined using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) in the temperature range of 0 °C to 80 °C. These parameters are pivotal for the effective application of these phase change materials (PCMs) in building envelopes, influencing the overall heat storage performance. The study delved into the development and encapsulation of blends containing both the phase change material (PCM) and graphite. This involves combining the chosen PCM with graphite powder and examining the weight ratios of 10% and 20%. The thermal characteristics of these blends revealed that a 10% ratio of graphite powder proved effective in improving the PCM with graphite. This resulted in a reduced range of melting and solidification temperatures while maintaining the essential chemical structure of the PCM without additives. Furthermore, the practical application of PCM–graphite composites within a building’s envelope was explored, revealing a substantial reduction in heat transfer from the exterior to the interior of the building. This underscores the potential for energy-efficient building designs. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue World Renewable Energy Congress 2023 (WREC2023)—Towards Net Zero Buildings)
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