Advances in Green Buildings

A special issue of Architecture (ISSN 2673-8945).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 December 2025 | Viewed by 2664

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Architecture and Built Environment Department, University of Northumbria, Benton, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 8ST, UK
Interests: sustainability in the built environment; green buildings; human-centric approach; life cycle management; risk management; construction project management

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Guest Editor
Department of Real Estate and Construction, University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong
Interests: procurement systems and integrated project delivery; construction occupational health; safety and wellbeing; digital construction; occupational heat stress
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

As the world faces unprecedented challenges arising from climate change and urbanisation, the need for sustainability in the built environment has never been more critical. Green buildings are at the forefront of sustainable transformation within the built environment, but critiques have been received regarding the evolving challenges in the current adoption and implementation of green building technologies and practices. Complexity in implementation, unpredictable performance, regulatory barriers and financial constraints are amongst the bottlenecks affecting advancing green buildings to meet the global net zero goals. In addition to carbon footprint reductions, new materials and smart technologies should anticipate and respond to evolving climate conditions and human needs in real time. Broader environmental concerns and equity issues need to be tackled. To enable advances in green buildings, it is essential to re-examine the current practice and refine green building solutions to make them more inclusive, efficient and cost effective, with an enhanced adaptative ability to change cultural and regionals needs for sustainability.

The aim of this Special Issue is to explore innovative green technologies, eco-conscious design, smart ideas and climate-responsive strategies to present opportunities for advances in green buildings.

This Special Issue will focus on, but is not limited to, the following themes:

  • Nature-based solutions and biophilic design;
  • Passive and active design;
  • Self-healing materials;
  • Carbon neutral or carbon positive technologies/systems;
  • Carbon sequestering materials and bio-based materials;
  • Circular economy and upcycling;
  • AI-driven/data-driven energy management;
  • Climate-adaptative/climate-responsive architecture;
  • Urban green/urban farming integration;
  • Smart building water management systems;
  • Living/self-sustaining buildings;
  • Green building policies and regulatory frameworks.

Dr. Cheng Siew Goh
Dr. Steve Rowlinson
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • green buildings innovations
  • carbon neutral/carbon positive solutions
  • climate responsive architecture
  • nature-based solutions
  • circular economy
  • AI-driven/data-driven energy management
  • circular economy
  • living buildings
  • carbon policies and regulations

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

14 pages, 3609 KB  
Article
Impact of Bioinspired Infill Pattern on the Thermal and Energy Efficiency of 3D Concrete Printed Building Envelope
by Girirajan Arumugam, Camelia May Li Kusumo and Tamil Salvi Mari
Architecture 2025, 5(3), 77; https://doi.org/10.3390/architecture5030077 - 8 Sep 2025
Viewed by 485
Abstract
The traditional construction industry significantly contributes to global resource consumption and climate change. Conventional methods limit the development of complex and multifunctional architectural forms. In contrast, 3D concrete printing (3DCP), an additive manufacturing technique, enables the creation of intricate building envelopes that integrate [...] Read more.
The traditional construction industry significantly contributes to global resource consumption and climate change. Conventional methods limit the development of complex and multifunctional architectural forms. In contrast, 3D concrete printing (3DCP), an additive manufacturing technique, enables the creation of intricate building envelopes that integrate architectural and energy-efficient functions. Bioinspired design, recognized for its sustainability, has gained traction in this context. This study investigates the thermal and energy performance of various bioinspired and regular 3DCP infill patterns compared to conventional concrete building envelopes in tropical climates. A three-stage methodology was employed. First, bioinspired patterns were identified and evaluated through a literature review. Next, prototype models were developed using Rhino and simulated in ANSYS to assess thermal performance. Finally, energy performance was analyzed using Ladybug and Honeybee tools. The results revealed that honeycomb, spiral, spiderweb, and weaving patterns achieved 35–40% higher thermal and energy efficiency than solid concrete, and about 10% more than the 3DCP sawtooth pattern. The findings highlight the potential of bioinspired spiral infill patterns to enhance the sustainability of 3DCP building envelopes. This opens new avenues for integrating biomimicry into 3DCP construction as a tool for performance optimization and environmental impact reduction. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Green Buildings)
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27 pages, 2234 KB  
Article
A Two-Step Fuzzy DEMATEL Analysis of the Barriers to Green Finance in Green Building in Developing Countries
by Caleb Debrah, Albert Ping Chuen Chan, Michael Atafo Adabre, De-Graft Owusu-Manu and Maxwell Fordjour Antwi-Afari
Architecture 2025, 5(3), 75; https://doi.org/10.3390/architecture5030075 - 5 Sep 2025
Viewed by 482
Abstract
Green buildings (GBs) are a means of achieving sustainable construction. However, they face challenges, such as higher (perceived or actual) investment costs and inadequate capital. Green finance (GF) presents opportunities to address some challenges of GB. Barriers hinder GF-in-GB; however, previous studies identifying [...] Read more.
Green buildings (GBs) are a means of achieving sustainable construction. However, they face challenges, such as higher (perceived or actual) investment costs and inadequate capital. Green finance (GF) presents opportunities to address some challenges of GB. Barriers hinder GF-in-GB; however, previous studies identifying barriers to GF-in-GB are limited. Moreover, prior studies have not considered the interrelationships among these barriers. This study aims to identify and prioritize the critical barriers to GF-in-GB in Ghana to inform decision-making by policymakers and stakeholders. This study developed a valid set of barriers and criteria from the literature to ascertain their interactions through two rounds of Delphi surveys with 12 professionals with GF-in-GB experience. A two-step fuzzy decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory (FDEMATEL) method was employed to validate 16 criteria of barriers using linguistic preferences. The findings of this study indicate that split incentives, inadequate private investment, inadequate management support, and limited green projects are critical barriers to GF-in-GB. These criteria deserve critical attention, as they are of high importance cause indices and can give rise to effect barriers. The government can adopt the research findings in policymaking and by other stakeholders that seek to eliminate barriers by focusing on the most influential ones. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Green Buildings)
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38 pages, 9919 KB  
Article
The Effects of Setback Geometry and Façade Design on the Thermal and Energy Performance of Multi-Story Residential Buildings in Hot Arid Climates
by Asmaa Omar, Mohammed M. Gomaa and Ayman Ragab
Architecture 2025, 5(3), 68; https://doi.org/10.3390/architecture5030068 - 26 Aug 2025
Viewed by 991
Abstract
This study investigates the influence of rear setback geometry and façade design parameters on microclimatic conditions, indoor thermal comfort, and energy performance in multi-story residential buildings in hot arid climates, addressing the growing need for climate-responsive design in regions with extreme temperatures and [...] Read more.
This study investigates the influence of rear setback geometry and façade design parameters on microclimatic conditions, indoor thermal comfort, and energy performance in multi-story residential buildings in hot arid climates, addressing the growing need for climate-responsive design in regions with extreme temperatures and high solar radiation. Despite increasing interest in sustainable strategies, the combined effects of urban geometry and building envelope design remain underexplored in these environments. A coupled simulation framework was developed, integrating ENVI-met for outdoor microclimate modeling with Design Builder and EnergyPlus for dynamic building performance analysis. A total of 270 simulation scenarios were examined, combining three rear setback aspect ratios (1.5, 1.87, and 2.25), three window-to-wall ratios (10%, 20%, and 30%), three glazing types (single-, double-, and triple-pane), and two wall insulation states, using customized weather files derived from microclimate simulations. Global sensitivity analysis using rank regression and multivariate adaptive regression splines identified the glazing type as the most influential parameter (sensitivity index ≈ 0.99), especially for upper floors. At the same time, higher aspect ratios reduced peak Physiological Equivalent Temperature (PET) by up to 5 °C and decreased upper-floor cooling loads by 37%, albeit with a 9.3% increase in ground-floor cooling demand. Larger window-to-wall ratios lowered lighting energy consumption by up to 35% but had minimal impact on cooling loads, whereas wall insulation reduced annual cooling demand by up to 29,441 kWh. The results emphasize that integrating urban morphology with optimized façade components, particularly high-performance glazing and suitable aspect ratios, can significantly improve thermal comfort and reduce cooling energy consumption in hot arid residential contexts. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Green Buildings)
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