Net-Zero-Energy Building Solutions for Sustainability

Dear Colleagues,

A net-zero energy building (NZEB) is an architectural structure that is designed and built to produce as much energy as it consumes during a year. The achievement of NZEBs requires not only efficiency measures to save energy but also renewable energy and other technologies to meet energy demands. In recent years, NZEBs have become increasingly popular in the built environment. They have the potential to reduce carbon emissions, mitigate climate change, optimize building energy efficiency, and incorporate renewable energy resources.

This Special Issue aims to establish a platform for innovative strategies and promising solutions that improve the performance of NZEBs throughout their lifecycles, contributing to a more sustainable built environment. In this issue, potential topics include, but are not limited to:

1. Innovative envelope materials and advanced design and construction solutions for NZEBs;
2. Energy-efficient heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems and renewable energy integration in NZEBs;
3. Smart technologies and digital twins for NZEBs;
4. The role of renewable energy technologies in achieving NZEB goals;
5. Retrofitting existing buildings towards the achievement of NZEBs;
6. Passive house principles, technologies, and applications for NZEBs;
7. Life cycle assessment (LCA) and environmental impact analysis (EIA) of NZEBs;
8. Occupant behavior and user-centric approaches for achieving NZEBs;
9. Policies, regulations, and incentives for promoting NZEB development;
10. Case studies on successful NZEB projects: lessons learned and best practices. 

These topics range from the design, construction, operation, and maintenance of NZEBs. They cover a range of aspects related to sustainable NZEBs, such as principles, approaches, technologies, policies, etc. Based on these topics, it is possible for researchers and practitioners to have a comprehensive and thorough understanding of how to achieve net-zero energy goals in today’s built environment.   

Dr. Xianhai Meng
Dr. Sha Liu
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.

• net-zero energy building
• sustainable built environment
• renewable energy
• building lifecycle
• smart building technologies