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Sustainability
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Smart Solutions and Technologies for Energy Efficiency and Sustainable Buildings
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Smart Solutions and Technologies for Energy Efficiency and Sustainable Buildings

A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Green Building".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 July 2023) | Viewed by 11841

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Gianluca Scaccianoce

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Engineering, University of Palermo, Viale delle Scienze Bld. 9, 90128 Palermo, Italy
Interests: dynamic building simulation; sustainable buildings; sustainable materials for the construction sector; innovative building envelope components; green roofs; building energy efficiency; indoor thermal comfort; lighting; acoustics; HVAC systems; urban energy efficiency; urban environmental sustainability; climate change resilient buildings; urban climate change resilience; urban energy resilience; outdoor environmental quality; atmospheric pollution; renewable energy sources; sustainable urban mobility
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Giorgia Peri

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Engineering, University of Palermo, Viale delle Scienze Bld. 9, 90128 Palermo, Italy
Interests: sustainable buildings; sustainable materials for the construction sector; innovative building envelope components; green roofs; building energy efficiency; indoor thermal comfort; environmental labelling; life cycle assessment; climate change resilient buildings; urban climate change resilience; urban energy resilience; sustainable urban mobility
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Laura Cirrincione

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Engineering, University of Palermo, Viale delle Scienze Bld. 9, 90128 Palermo, Italy
Interests: dynamic building simulation; sustainable building components; innovative building envelope components; building energy efficiency; urban energy efficiency; urban energy resilience; sustainable buildings; resilient buildings; urban environmental sustainability; urban environmental resilience; indoor environmental quality; outdoor environmental quality; HVAC systems
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Energy efficient and decarbonized built environments are central to the transition towards a more environmentally and economically sustainable and resilient society, especially within the current and future climate change and energy crisis scenarios. According to the most recent available reports, urban settlements are responsible for 25%-40% of global energy use, corresponding to 17.5%–39% of energy-use-related carbon emissions. Moreover, it should be considered that built areas are subject to a continuous urbanization process (due to both demographic variations and migratory flows) that requires a constant supply of energy, thereby causing significant pollutant emissions. Therefore, to address these needs, the issues concerning buildings and overall urban energy efficiency and carbon neutrality have been increasingly integrated into global policies and regulations (e.g., the UN Sustainable Development Goals—SDGs) aimed at supporting climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies for a clean and sustainable energy transition, both in terms of resource availability and economic and environmental aspects.

However, despite the advances made in scientific research regarding these issues, the currently slow pace of the energy-related renovation, rehabilitation, and integration of the built environment mainly appears to be related to the lack of smart, sustainable approaches to addressing the issue of urban energy efficiency in an integrated and comprehensive manner. That is, sustainability must be considered not only from an environmental point of view, but economically as well, in order to maximally encourage these practices’ actual implementation.

Starting from these assumptions, this Special Issue aims to collect high-quality research activities and products (original research articles, reviews, and case studies are welcome) focused on smart and sustainable solutions, technologies, and strategies addressing the above-mentioned issues, thereby fostering energy efficiency and the decarbonization of built environments, particularly in the building sector. Within this context, the research areas may include (but are not limited to) the following:

  • Effective strategies for improving the energy efficiency (e.g., implementing sustainable retrofit interventions), reducing the environmental impact, and encouraging the integration of Renewable Energy Sources (RES) for different types of buildings and users (e.g., residential, public, tertiary sector, etc.);
  • Nearly Zero Energy Buildings (NZEB), Positive Energy Buildings (PEB), and Positive Energy Districts (PED);
  • User-centric solutions in the building sector with which to drive the transition towards a sustainable and decarbonized society and economy (i.e., inducing lasting behavioral changes towards sustainable living);
  • Smart systems for the flexible management of the energy interconnections between buildings (enabling users to produce, store, convert, and redistribute/transport—not just consume—energy) to promote energy equity and accessibility;
  • Efficient and smart urban energy planning at the cluster-of-buildings level, in order to identify possible methods, strategies, and overall solutions for the energy upgradation and decarbonization of urban areas.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Prof. Dr. Gianluca Scaccianoce
Dr. Giorgia Peri
Dr. Laura Cirrincione
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. Sustainability is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly 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 2400 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

  • building energy optimization
  • smart buildings
  • climate change resilience
  • buildings’ energy efficiency
  • smart solutions and technologies
  • urban energy planning
  • sustainable energy use
  • buildings sustainability and resilience
  • carbon neutrality in the built environment
  • energy efficiency

Related Special Issue

Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

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25 pages, 6057 KiB  
Article
Using System Dynamics to Examine Effects of Satisfaction with PV Systems, Advertising, and Competition on Energy Security and CO2 Emissions in Jordan
by Abbas Al-Refaie, Natalija Lepkova and Constantinos Hadjistassou
Sustainability 2023, 15(20), 14907; https://doi.org/10.3390/su152014907 - 16 Oct 2023
Viewed by 717
Abstract
With rapid technology advancements in renewable energy systems, rooftop photovoltaic (PV) products and systems can be considered a crucial element in the transition toward energy sustainability in residential buildings. Still, residents’ initiatives are required to expand the adoption of clean energy-efficient technology to [...] Read more.
With rapid technology advancements in renewable energy systems, rooftop photovoltaic (PV) products and systems can be considered a crucial element in the transition toward energy sustainability in residential buildings. Still, residents’ initiatives are required to expand the adoption of clean energy-efficient technology to replace conventional energy systems and thereby achieve a sustainable environment. The aim of this study was, therefore, to develop system dynamics models to relate adopters’ satisfaction with PV systems through word-of-mouth (WoM), advertising, and competition and then evaluate their impacts on the number of PV installations, generated electric power, and the reduction in CO2 emissions for rooftop buildings in Jordan for the years from 2020 to 2040. Results revealed that the predicted cumulative PV installations will increase to 262 and 558 MW in 2030 and 2040, respectively. Due to this, the cumulative generated power (kWh) (=42.5 GWh) will reach 452 and 964 GWh in 2030 and 2040, respectively. Moreover, the cumulative CO2 emission reductions may reach 262 and 558 million kg CO2 in 2030 and 2040, respectively. In conclusion, continual assessment of the adopters’ feedback on installed PV systems, adopting effective advertising, and advancement of PV designs and technology can significantly support achieving energy sustainability in residential buildings and reduce the dependency on traditional, scarce energy resources. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Smart Solutions and Technologies for Energy Efficiency and Sustainable Buildings)
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31 pages, 21999 KiB  
Article
Approaches for Complex and Integrated Refurbishment to Improve Energy Efficiency and Spatial Comfort of the Existing Post-War Mass Housing Stock in Serbia
by Bojana Lević, Ljiljana Đukanović and Dušan Ignjatović
Sustainability 2023, 15(18), 13884; https://doi.org/10.3390/su151813884 - 18 Sep 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 935
Abstract
The research presents approaches to the complex refurbishment of multi-family buildings constructed during the mass construction period in Serbia. These buildings comprise a quarter of Serbia’s housing stock, are characterized by high energy consumption for heating, and have major spatial and organizational deficiencies: [...] Read more.
The research presents approaches to the complex refurbishment of multi-family buildings constructed during the mass construction period in Serbia. These buildings comprise a quarter of Serbia’s housing stock, are characterized by high energy consumption for heating, and have major spatial and organizational deficiencies: small apartments, outdated and inflexible spatial organization, and the absence of elevators. The subject of the research is the application of the methodology of complex and integrated refurbishment by adding volume to existing multi-family buildings with the goal of achieving higher energy efficiency while remodeling and modernizing residential units and improving vertical building communications. The research presents a comparative analysis of the energy performance and spatial organization of the existing building and three variants of building improvement: Case 1 (without volumetric additions), Case 2 (with volumetric additions—relocating vertical communications), and Case 3 (with volumetric additions—expanding usable living space). Based on the Knaufterm simulations, the energy savings for heating energy consumption compared to the existing state are 81% in Case 1, 89% in Case 2, and 87% in Case 3. Based on predefined parameters of spatial comfort, a comparative analysis of spatial comfort in residential units was conducted for all three improvement variants. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Smart Solutions and Technologies for Energy Efficiency and Sustainable Buildings)
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20 pages, 12253 KiB  
Article
Thermal Performance, Microstructure Analysis and Strength Characterisation of Agro-Waste Reinforced Soil Materials
by Monica C. M. Parlato, Simona M. C. Porto, Carmen Galán-Marín, Carlos Alberto Rivera-Gómez, Massimo Cuomo and Francesco Nocera
Sustainability 2023, 15(15), 11543; https://doi.org/10.3390/su151511543 - 26 Jul 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 734
Abstract
The use of raw-earth materials reinforced by natural fibres, i.e., livestock waste in the form of greasy wool, represents an eco-friendly alternative for a variety of construction applications. This proposal is based on the analysis of unfired adobe blocks stabilised with wool fibres [...] Read more.
The use of raw-earth materials reinforced by natural fibres, i.e., livestock waste in the form of greasy wool, represents an eco-friendly alternative for a variety of construction applications. This proposal is based on the analysis of unfired adobe blocks stabilised with wool fibres for use as both structural and non-structural building materials. The influence of fibre length on the thermophysical and mechanical properties of the tested material was investigated. The thermal conductivity coefficient (λ) of raw-earth samples was assessed by following three different test setting procedures (T = 20 °C, and HR at 30%, 50%, and 70%), with the aim to evaluate the effects of different fibre lengths in the raw-earth mix. Samples reinforced by fibres 20 mm in length exhibited the lowest thermal conductivity coefficient (λ = 0.719 W/mK) obtained by a test reproducing typical indoor conditions within the Mediterranean area, i.e., T = 20 °C, and HR 50%. The best mechanical performance was exhibited by samples reinforced by fibres 40 mm in length, with a flexural and compression strength of 0.88 MPa and 2.97 MPa, respectively. The microstructure of these biocomposites was also examined with a scanning electron microscope (SEM) and an energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) to qualitatively evaluate the variation of thermal and mechanical properties due to the different adhesion among the fibres and the soil. The experimental data show good efficiency and a significant improvement in the behaviour of these materials compared to the control samples. The evaluation of the results, with the length of the fibres being the only variable of the analysed samples, allowed for the identification of the mix suitable for the best mechanical and thermal performances, depending on the final use of the material. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Smart Solutions and Technologies for Energy Efficiency and Sustainable Buildings)
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21 pages, 5004 KiB  
Article
Balancing Thermal Comfort and Energy Consumption in Residential Buildings of Desert Areas: Impact of Passive Strategies
by Abir Khechiba, Djamila Djaghrouri, Moussadek Benabbas, Francesco Leccese, Michele Rocca and Giacomo Salvadori
Sustainability 2023, 15(10), 8383; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15108383 - 22 May 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1346
Abstract
Modern building materials using reinforced concrete are considered the most popular in the production of housing in Algeria, specifically in desert areas such as the city of Ouargla, which is characterized by its hot and arid climate. These dwellings must be more adaptable [...] Read more.
Modern building materials using reinforced concrete are considered the most popular in the production of housing in Algeria, specifically in desert areas such as the city of Ouargla, which is characterized by its hot and arid climate. These dwellings must be more adaptable to this difficult climate. An example is the Ouargla Ksar, which contains traditional dwellings that have proven their effectiveness in terms of the heat problem, as has been revealed in several previously conducted studies, but these dwellings have decreased in demand as they are not suitable for contemporary urban life. Therefore, the aim of this study is to improve the performance of the most recognized house typologies in the city of Ouargla in terms of thermal comfort and energy consumption by using passive strategies. In this regard, we used a research methodology based on field measurements and model simulations wherein we adopted TRNSYS 17 to determine the most often encountered problems. The simulated model was validated by statistical correlation; afterward, a simulation of a full year was run, during which many aspects of construction were studied and compared, such as insulation, the mass of the roof and walls, dimensions and types of windows, orientation, and solar shading. The results show that the studied modern house can be considered inappropriate for a desert climate, and the use of solar shading combined with insulated walls and roof allows for an increase of 35% in annual thermal comfort hours (−0.5 ≤ PMV ≤0.5) and for a 22.73% reduction in the energy consumption. We then compared the simulated scenarios with a traditional house characterized by a bioclimatic architectural design that we used as a reference building. The obtained results may be useful in guiding both refurbishment interventions on existing buildings and the design of new ones. Although the simulated interventions have been widely studied in the literature, it is very important to determine their impact on the perception of the indoor environment and on the energy consumption in this specific geographic area. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Smart Solutions and Technologies for Energy Efficiency and Sustainable Buildings)
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20 pages, 6024 KiB  
Article
Sky Gardens, Public Spaces and Urban Sustainability in Dense Cities: Shenzhen, Hong Kong and Singapore
by Yan Li, Hongwu Du and Ceren Sezer
Sustainability 2022, 14(16), 9824; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14169824 - 9 Aug 2022
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 3831
Abstract
This paper studies the spatial characteristics of sky gardens as public spaces to explore their potential to support urban sustainability in dense cities. This research understands public spaces as spaces that are open and available in different levels of access and use. The [...] Read more.
This paper studies the spatial characteristics of sky gardens as public spaces to explore their potential to support urban sustainability in dense cities. This research understands public spaces as spaces that are open and available in different levels of access and use. The research focuses on 982 sky gardens in Shenzhen, Hong Kong, and Singapore. It adopts a mixed methodology, including site visits and observations, statistic measurements (based on SPSS software), and Grey Relation Analysis (GRA) methods. The research follows three steps: first, it studies the urban context, including urban density, land uses, and policy regulations regarding sky gardens and sustainability. Second, it examines sky gardens’ spatial characteristics in terms of form (morphology, typology, size, affordances, configuration), openness quality (accessibility, ownership, permeability), and geometry (open space ratio, height of space-to-building, void-to-solid ratio, shape index). Third, the research compares the findings in three case cities and discusses their potential to support urban sustainability. The results suggest that despite the limitations of sky gardens, they may play, to different degrees, fundamental roles as open public spaces in high-density urban environments supporting cities’ sustainability. High-density environments offer more opportunities for the sustainable development of sky gardens, which creates a new spatial paradigm for compact vertical greenery in high-density cities. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Smart Solutions and Technologies for Energy Efficiency and Sustainable Buildings)
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Review

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16 pages, 1135 KiB  
Review
Digital Technologies and Sustainability Assessment: A Critical Review on the Integration Methods between BIM and LEED
by Stefano Cascone
Sustainability 2023, 15(6), 5548; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15065548 - 21 Mar 2023
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 3134
Abstract
In the context of sustainable development and parametric design, it is interesting to analyze the possible synergies between Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), the most-used certification scheme for the design, construction, and management of green buildings, and Building Information Modeling (BIM), [...] Read more.
In the context of sustainable development and parametric design, it is interesting to analyze the possible synergies between Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), the most-used certification scheme for the design, construction, and management of green buildings, and Building Information Modeling (BIM), which supports the supply, integration, and management of information throughout the building life cycle. This paper aims to review the state of the art of the different integration methods between LEED and BIM at the early design phase. Third-party software information exchange, the cloud-BIM approach, and plug-in development using application program interface (API) were considered as possible integration strategies to automate LEED certification by BIM. In addition, optimization models and rule-based methods were analyzed. Finally, a critical review on the limitations, advantages and future research developments in LEED and BIM integration was clearly defined. Although the development of plug-ins was the most powerful integration method, it requires advanced informatics knowledge. On the other hand, using third-party tools increased manual working and checking due to interoperability issues. A visual programming language (VPL) can allow designers and researchers without any informatics knowledge to create parametric BIM models by including LEED requirements. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Smart Solutions and Technologies for Energy Efficiency and Sustainable Buildings)
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