Sustainable Energy in the Built Environment and Building
A special issue of Architecture (ISSN 2673-8945).
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 July 2026 | Viewed by 7
Special Issue Editors
Interests: building energy efficiency and flexibility; grid-building interactions; energy system control/design optimization; game-theory-based analysis of building demand response; life-cycle assessment analysis
Interests: photovoltaic/thermal systems; radiative cooling; spectrum regulation; buildings; data center; cooling system; workload migration; reinforcement learning; smart grid
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
The pursuit of sustainable energy in buildings and the wider built environment requires integrated, innovative solutions that reduce demand, harness renewables, and optimize performance. This Special Issue, entitled “Sustainable Energy in the Built Environment and Building”, welcomes the submission of research on holistic strategies spanning advanced materials, system design, and digital controls.
Buildings consume large quantities of energy for heating, cooling, lighting, and plug‑loads. Beyond traditional efficiency upgrades—improved insulation, high‑performance glazing, and efficient HVAC—emerging approaches leverage smart controls and on‑site renewables to dynamically balance supply and demand. We welcome studies on passive design and adaptive façades (e.g., phase‑change materials, high‑albedo surfaces) that moderate thermal loads, as well as innovative HVAC solutions such as demand‑controlled ventilation, radiant systems, and integrated heat pumps.
Digitalization has transformed the operation of buildings. We therefore seek contributions on IoT sensor networks, digital twins, and machine learning models for occupancy forecasting and predictive control. Case studies that highlight the integration of photovoltaics, battery storage, and grid interaction—especially microgrid or building‑to‑vehicle applications—will illustrate pathways to net‑zero performance.
Multi‑scale perspectives enrich our understanding, with district energy networks, neighborhood microgrids, and clusters of smart buildings revealing synergies between individual structures and shared infrastructure. Research on building‑integrated energy systems—such as façade‑mounted turbines or combined heat and power—further highlights how the built environment itself can function as an energy resource.
Finally, occupant behavior and comfort preferences critically influence energy outcomes. Interdisciplinary studies involving post‑occupancy evaluations and user‑centered system design ensure that technological innovations translate into real‑world savings and satisfaction.
We welcome the submission of original research articles, reviews, and case studies that propose sustainable energy solutions for buildings and their urban context, fostering a resilient, low‑carbon future.
Dr. Hong Tang
Dr. Yingbo Zhang
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. Architecture is an international peer-reviewed open access quarterly 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 1200 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 efficiency
- smart building controls
- renewable integration
- digital twins
- occupant-centric design
- envelope optimization
- demand-controlled ventilation
- energy storage integration
- district energy systems
- machine learning in buildings
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