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Applied Sciences
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Advances in the Energy Efficiency and Thermal Comfort of Buildings
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Advances in the Energy Efficiency and Thermal Comfort of Buildings

A special issue of Applied Sciences (ISSN 2076-3417). This special issue belongs to the section "Energy Science and Technology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 September 2025 | Viewed by 2936

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Magdalena Grudzińska

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Faculty of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Lublin University of Technology, 20-618 Lublin, Poland
Interests: energy efficiency; overheating protection; dynamic building simulation
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Jing Zhao

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Tianjin Key Laboratory of Built Environment and Energy Application, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
Interests: building energy efficiency; building simulation; intelligent control
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The energy efficiency of existing and newly built buildings is one of the key issues related to reducing the use of nonrenewable energy sources and CO2 emissions. It produces many challenges concerning diminishing energy use while providing thermal comfort throughout the year, both in residential and public utility buildings. The problems connected with energy-efficient design concern both structures with external partitions of the buildings and their effective installation systems. Actions should be taken not only to diminish heat losses but also to ensure overheating protection and the effective use of renewable energy sources in a passive or active way; therefore, this Special Issue is intended for the presentation of new ideas and experimental research results aiming at effective energy use in buildings, ranging from theory to practical applications.

Areas relevant to energy efficiency and structures ensuring thermal comfort include, but are not limited to, highly insulated building casing, thermal bridges, solar passive design, including solar spaces, atria, transparent insulations, double-skin façades, overheating protection, shading and ventilation strategies, users’ behavior, active solar heating systems, heat pumps, optimization of building installation, and passive as well as low-energy buildings.

Dr. Magdalena Grudzińska
Dr. Jing Zhao
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. Applied Sciences 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

  • energy efficiency
  • heating and cooling demand
  • thermal protection
  • thermal comfort
  • passive and active solar systems
  • overheating protection
  • building installation systems

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

20 pages, 5838 KiB  
Article
Post-Occupancy Evaluation in High-Rise Apartment Buildings in Vietnam
by Yuanchen Wang, Anh Tuan Tran, Thi Hai Ha Pham, Thi Hoa Nguyen, Konstantinos Stergiaropoulos and Dirk Schwede
Appl. Sci. 2025, 15(9), 4741; https://doi.org/10.3390/app15094741 - 24 Apr 2025
Viewed by 242
Abstract
As part of the CAMaRSEC research project, long-term indoor environmental measurements with accompanying occupant surveys were conducted over one year in 49 households in 15 high-rise residential apartment buildings in Hanoi, Vietnam. A comprehensive analysis of the collected data revealed differences in the [...] Read more.
As part of the CAMaRSEC research project, long-term indoor environmental measurements with accompanying occupant surveys were conducted over one year in 49 households in 15 high-rise residential apartment buildings in Hanoi, Vietnam. A comprehensive analysis of the collected data revealed differences in the indoor environment and energy consumption patterns during the operational phase of the buildings, as well as their correlation with diverse occupant behaviors. In addition, by comparing subjective thermal evaluations based on occupant surveys with predictions based on comfort models, the limitations of existing models in predicting the thermal sensations of local people were identified. Furthermore, the findings indicated that the apartment building design standard in Vietnam underestimates the thermal adaptation of occupants, which may lead to significant building performance gaps. Larger scale surveys and measurements are required to provide sufficient databases to refine local building design standards, especially for mixed-mode buildings. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in the Energy Efficiency and Thermal Comfort of Buildings)
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27 pages, 10148 KiB  
Article
Practices of BIM-Enabled Assessment of Politehnica University Timisoara Building Stock for a More Sustainable Future
by Sorin Herban, Andrei Crișan, Simon Pescari, Adrian Alionescu, Paul Zdrenghea, Clara-Beatrice Vîlceanu, Viorel Ungureanu, Domenica Costantino, Massimiliano Pepe and Vincenzo S. Alfio
Appl. Sci. 2025, 15(9), 4660; https://doi.org/10.3390/app15094660 - 23 Apr 2025
Viewed by 206
Abstract
The aim of the paper is to identify energy inefficiencies and to propose energy-saving solutions to reduce the carbon footprint of the structures, considering Building Information Modelling—Existing Conditions Model as an enabling tool. The initiative underscores the role of Building Information Modelling—Existing Conditions [...] Read more.
The aim of the paper is to identify energy inefficiencies and to propose energy-saving solutions to reduce the carbon footprint of the structures, considering Building Information Modelling—Existing Conditions Model as an enabling tool. The initiative underscores the role of Building Information Modelling—Existing Conditions Model in facilitating data-driven strategies for improving energy efficiency, highlighting its potential to transform the infrastructure and built environment into a paradigm of responsible energy consumption. In this context, the paper presents a comprehensive assessment of the thermal performance of student accommodations using advanced technologies, such as Unmanned Aerial Systems and Terrestrial Laser Scanners equipped with thermal cameras. The findings illustrate potential areas for improvements in thermal efficiency, offering a roadmap for targeted interventions to enhance the energy performance of buildings. The results of the study not only advance the green campus at Politehnica University Timisoara (Romania), but also serve as an educational model that demonstrates the integration of technology to promote sustainability in the built environment. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in the Energy Efficiency and Thermal Comfort of Buildings)
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23 pages, 11618 KiB  
Article
Exploring the Impact of Thermal Environment on Student Well-Being in Sustainable Campus Settings
by Khaula Alkaabi, Kashif Mehmood, Saif Bin Hdhaiba, Sarah Aljaberi and Noora Alkaabi
Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(24), 11832; https://doi.org/10.3390/app142411832 - 18 Dec 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1015
Abstract
As universities strive to create sustainable and comfortable learning environments, understanding the factors that influence student well-being is crucial for promoting good health and well-being (SDG 3) and fostering sustainable communities (SDG 11). This study, conducted at a female campus in the UAE, [...] Read more.
As universities strive to create sustainable and comfortable learning environments, understanding the factors that influence student well-being is crucial for promoting good health and well-being (SDG 3) and fostering sustainable communities (SDG 11). This study, conducted at a female campus in the UAE, investigates the impact of various external factors on students’ psychological perceptions. Specifically, it examines how abaya color, landscape settings, and time of day affect body fatigue, eye fatigue, and thermal discomfort, providing valuable insights for campus planning and design. Using GrADS and an FLIR thermal camera, this research analyzed temperature, humidity, and surface temperatures. The Kruskal–Wallis test and Don Bonferroni pairwise comparisons were employed to assess the impact of conditions on psychological perceptions. The results indicate that abaya color insignificantly affected perceptions in summer, but light brown was preferred in spring. Landscape sites influenced eye fatigue and skin dryness in summer, favoring shaded areas. The time of day affected body heat, skin dryness, and thermal discomfort, with greater discomfort in summer afternoons. These findings offer valuable insights for campus planning, particularly in hot summer months, promoting students’ psychological well-being (SDG 3) and sustainable campus communities (SDG 11). Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in the Energy Efficiency and Thermal Comfort of Buildings)
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24 pages, 12700 KiB  
Article
Perception of Summer Conditions in Prefabricated Multifamily Buildings Occupied by Middle-Aged and Elderly People Based on Monitoring of Dwellings in Warm-Summer Humid Continental Climate
by Magdalena Grudzińska, Rafał Stabryła, Krzysztof Siwek, Krzysztof Bartoszek and Jakub Wankiewicz
Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(24), 11505; https://doi.org/10.3390/app142411505 - 10 Dec 2024
Viewed by 874
Abstract
This study concentrates on the thermal comfort in dwellings occupied by people above 45 years old in buildings constructed of prefabricated large-scale concrete plates. The buildings underwent many thermal modernisations, and nowadays, with growing external temperatures and solar irradiation, their properties may not [...] Read more.
This study concentrates on the thermal comfort in dwellings occupied by people above 45 years old in buildings constructed of prefabricated large-scale concrete plates. The buildings underwent many thermal modernisations, and nowadays, with growing external temperatures and solar irradiation, their properties may not be sufficient to ensure comfortable internal conditions. The issue is all the more important because the population of residents is growing older, so the occupants are becoming more vulnerable and more prone to the negative effects of overheating. This research included the monitoring of ten apartments located in five- or twelve-storey buildings, situated in Lublin, a city in southeastern Poland. The monitoring took place in July and August 2023, when internal temperature, solar radiation intensity, window opening, and shading strategies were measured and observed. External conditions were registered by meteorological posts belonging to the Maria Curie-Skłodowska University in Lublin. Additional information about the inhabitants’ behaviour and internal gains was collected through a questionnaire. In most cases, dwellings located in prefabricated residential buildings could be maintained in a comfortable temperature range, even by the ageing self-sufficient occupants. Still, when particular negative factors related to the building’s construction appeared, overheating could be noticeably longer and more troubling, exceeding the elderly’s capabilities to handle it. This showed the necessity of further analyses, especially in the context of the global warming effect. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in the Energy Efficiency and Thermal Comfort of Buildings)
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