Sustainable Building Practices for a Net-Zero Future: Enhancing Energy Efficiency and Carbon Reduction

Dear Colleagues,

Because they account for a sizeable share of global energy consumption and carbon emissions, buildings play a pivotal role in shaping a sustainable future and, as we move toward a net-zero carbon world, enhancing the sustainability of building design, construction, and operation has become essential. In short, the built environment must adapt to growing environmental challenges while improving energy efficiency, reducing emissions, and optimizing resource use.

This Special Issue focuses on innovative strategies, technologies, and practices that enable buildings to achieve net-zero energy consumption and significantly reduce carbon footprints. The emphasis will be placed on building design and construction techniques that promote sustainability, energy efficiency, and carbon reduction, alongside the integration of renewable energy systems, smart technologies, and low-carbon materials.

We invite original research and review articles that explore sustainable building practices for a net-zero future. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Innovations in insulation, windows, HVAC systems, and lighting to reduce energy demand in buildings.
• Strategies and technologies for and case studies on achieving buildings with minimal energy consumption.
• Approaches to integrating solar, wind, geothermal, and other renewable energy sources into building designs to reduce dependency on fossil fuels.
• The development and application of eco-friendly, low-carbon materials and construction methods in building design and retrofitting.
• The role of smart building technologies, including automation, IoT, and energy management systems, in enhancing energy efficiency and carbon reduction.
• Techniques and technologies for retrofitting existing buildings to meet the energy performance standards required for a net-zero carbon future.
• Strategies to minimize waste and maximize the reuse and recycling of materials in the building lifecycle.
• Comprehensive assessments of the energy performance, exergy efficiency, and environmental impacts of buildings using simulations and real-world data.
• Investigating methods to incorporate carbon capture and storage into construction materials, such as bio-based materials and carbon storing technologies.
• The role of urban planning and district energy systems in facilitating sustainable and carbon-neutral urban environments.
• Tools and methodologies for evaluating building performance in terms of energy efficiency and carbon emissions, including lifecycle assessments and environmental impact analyses.
• Understanding the economic, social, and health benefits of sustainable buildings, including cost–benefit analyses and strategies for incentivizing green building practices.

This Special Issue will provide a comprehensive overview of the latest research, technological advancements, and practical solutions for creating a sustainable built environment that meets the demands of a net-zero future. We encourage contributions that highlight innovative approaches and practical implementations, offering solutions that can be applied globally to address the pressing challenges of climate change and resource depletion.

We look forward to receiving high-quality submissions that contribute to the advancement of sustainable building practices, enabling the built environment to play a central role in achieving global carbon reduction and energy efficiency goals.

Dr. P. Manoj Kumar
Prof. Dr. J. Raja Murugadoss
Dr. Murugesan Palaniappan
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 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

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. Buildings 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 2600 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.

• HVAC systems
• energy consumption
• eco-friendly and low-carbon materials
• smart building technologies
• net-zero energy buildings