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Volume 15
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10.3390/buildings15173109
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This is an early access version, the complete PDF, HTML, and XML versions will be available soon.
Review

Assessment of Phase Change Materials Incorporation into Construction Commodities for Sustainable and Energy-Efficient Building Applications

by
Ihsan Ur Rahman
1,*,
Oronzio Manca
1,
Bernardo Buonomo
1,
Meriem Bounib
1,2,
Shafi Ur Rehman
3,
Hala Salhab
3,
Antonio Caggiano
4 and
Sergio Nardini
1
1
Dipartimento di Ingegneria, Università degli Studi della Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, 81031 Aversa, Italy
2
Laboratory Physics-Chemistry, Research of Surfaces and Interfaces, Department of Physics, Sciences Faculty, 20 August 1955-Skikda University, Skikda 21000, Algeria
3
Dipartimento di Disegno Industriale, Università degli Studi della Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, 81031 Aversa, Italy
4
Department of Civil, Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Università degli Studi di Genova, 16145 Genoa, Italy
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Buildings 2025, 15(17), 3109; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings15173109
Submission received: 30 July 2025 / Revised: 21 August 2025 / Accepted: 24 August 2025 / Published: 29 August 2025
(This article belongs to the Section Building Energy, Physics, Environment, and Systems)
Versions Notes

Abstract

The significant energy consumption and contribution to greenhouse gas emissions by the construction sector need careful attention to explore innovative sustainable solutions for improving the energy efficiency and thermal comfort of building envelopes. The integration of phase-change materials (PCMs) into building commodities is a favorable technology for minimizing energy consumption and enhancing thermal performance. This review paper covers the impact of PCM incorporation into construction materials, such as walls, roofs, and glazing units. Additionally, it examines different embedding techniques like direct incorporation, immersion, macro and micro-encapsulation, and form and shape-stable PCM. Factors affecting the thermal performance of PCM-integrated buildings, including melting temperature, thickness, position, volumetric change, vapor pressure, density, optical properties, latent heat, thermal conductivity, chemical stability, and climate conditions, are elaborated. Furthermore, the latest experimental and numerical simulations, as well as modeling techniques, evident from case studies, are investigated. Ultimately, the advantages of PCM integration, including energy savings, peak load reduction, improvement in interior comfort, and reduced heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning dependence, are explained alongside the limitations. Finally, the recent progress and future potential of PCM-integrated construction materials are discussed, focusing on innovations in this field, addressing the status of policies in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, and outlining research potential for the future.
Keywords: Building thermal management; Phase change materials integration; environmental sustainability; energy-efficient constructions; carbon-neutral constructions; building thermal comfort Building thermal management; Phase change materials integration; environmental sustainability; energy-efficient constructions; carbon-neutral constructions; building thermal comfort

Share and Cite

MDPI and ACS Style

Rahman, I.U.; Manca, O.; Buonomo, B.; Bounib, M.; Rehman, S.U.; Salhab, H.; Caggiano, A.; Nardini, S. Assessment of Phase Change Materials Incorporation into Construction Commodities for Sustainable and Energy-Efficient Building Applications. Buildings 2025, 15, 3109. https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings15173109

AMA Style

Rahman IU, Manca O, Buonomo B, Bounib M, Rehman SU, Salhab H, Caggiano A, Nardini S. Assessment of Phase Change Materials Incorporation into Construction Commodities for Sustainable and Energy-Efficient Building Applications. Buildings. 2025; 15(17):3109. https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings15173109

Chicago/Turabian Style

Rahman, Ihsan Ur, Oronzio Manca, Bernardo Buonomo, Meriem Bounib, Shafi Ur Rehman, Hala Salhab, Antonio Caggiano, and Sergio Nardini. 2025. "Assessment of Phase Change Materials Incorporation into Construction Commodities for Sustainable and Energy-Efficient Building Applications" Buildings 15, no. 17: 3109. https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings15173109

APA Style

Rahman, I. U., Manca, O., Buonomo, B., Bounib, M., Rehman, S. U., Salhab, H., Caggiano, A., & Nardini, S. (2025). Assessment of Phase Change Materials Incorporation into Construction Commodities for Sustainable and Energy-Efficient Building Applications. Buildings, 15(17), 3109. https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings15173109

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