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Buildings
Special Issues
Advancing Sustainable and Cost-Effective Practices in Building Design and Construction
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Advancing Sustainable and Cost-Effective Practices in Building Design and Construction

A special issue of Buildings (ISSN 2075-5309). This special issue belongs to the section "Building Energy, Physics, Environment, and Systems".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 August 2025 | Viewed by 750

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Daniela Lucia Manea

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Civil Engineering and Management, Faculty of Civil Engineering, Technical University of Cluj-Napoca, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Interests: material chemistry; green building materials; sustainable development; recovery of industrial waste in construction materials; influence of construction materials on health and environment
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Raluca Istoan

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Civil Engineering and Management, Faculty of Civil Engineering, Technical University of Cluj-Napoca, 400020 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Interests: building materials; green economy; waste and natural resources; lifecycle management practices
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Daniela-Roxana Tămaş-Gavrea

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Civil Engineering and Management, Faculty of Construction, Technical University of Cluj-Napoca, 400020 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Interests: sustainable building materials; clean production; indoor comfort; environmental impacts; energy efficiency

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue offers an opportunity to explore solutions to the challenges posed by the current cost crisis and its impact on the construction industry. This Special Issue invites submissions related to the latest developments in sustainable building materials, innovative construction technologies, lifecycle management, and practices aimed at reducing the environmental impact of the construction sector, a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, with the goal of promoting green economic growth in the field. Therefore, we welcome studies on green building solutions and durable, well-designed, and disaster-resilient buildings that enhance both the sustainability and safety of the built environment. These innovations have the potential to create a more resilient and sustainable built environment while mitigating costs. In the context of natural disaster-resilient buildings, this Special Issue encourages researchers, policymakers, and practitioners to share findings and strategies that will advance sustainable development and support a transformative shift in the construction industry towards a more cost-effective, energy-efficient, and eco-conscious future. Potential topics for papers submitted to this Special Issue include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Sustainable, recycled insulating materials;
  • High-performance building envelope solutions;
  • Indoor environmental quality and well-being;
  • Innovative building technologies;
  • Sustainable construction waste management and recycling;
  • Life-cycle cost–benefit analysis of sustainable buildings;
  • End-of-life building materials and recycling options;
  • Well-designed disaster resilient buildings;
  • Green building practices in the transition to a green economy;
  • Energy-efficient buildings' local and global economic impact.

Prof. Dr. Daniela Lucia Manea
Dr. Raluca Istoan
Dr. Daniela-Roxana Tămaş-Gavrea
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. 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.

Keywords

  • sustainable building materials
  • innovative construction technologies
  • lifecycle management
  • green economy
  • green building practices

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  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

17 pages, 1156 KiB  
Article
Cost and Incentive Analysis of Green Building Label Upgrades in Taiwan’s Residential Sector: A Case Study of Silver to Gold EEWH Certification
by Yen-An Chen, Fang-I Su and Chen-Yi Sun
Buildings 2025, 15(16), 2956; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings15162956 - 20 Aug 2025
Abstract
In response to the global push for sustainable development, green building certification systems have become a key policy instrument for reducing carbon emissions in the construction sector. In Taiwan, the EEWH (Ecology, Energy Saving, Waste Reduction, and Health) system serves as the primary [...] Read more.
In response to the global push for sustainable development, green building certification systems have become a key policy instrument for reducing carbon emissions in the construction sector. In Taiwan, the EEWH (Ecology, Energy Saving, Waste Reduction, and Health) system serves as the primary framework for evaluating building sustainability. However, while government incentives such as floor area ratio (FAR) bonuses aim to encourage adoption, private sector participation remains limited, especially in the residential sector. This study investigates the cost implications and incentive benefits of upgrading green building certification from the Silver level to the Gold level under the EEWH system, using eight collective housing projects in the Taipei metropolitan area as case studies. Through a detailed analysis of certification components, upgrade strategies, and construction cost estimates, this research quantifies the additional costs required for each sustainability indicator and evaluates the alignment between upgrade investments and incentive rewards. The findings reveal that the average cost increase associated with the Silver-to-Gold upgrade ranges between 1% and 3% of total construction costs, with certain design strategies offering high cost-effectiveness. Moreover, the study examines whether the current FAR bonus policy provides adequate motivation for developers to pursue higher certification levels. The results provide valuable insights for policymakers seeking to optimize incentive structures and for developers considering sustainable building investments. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advancing Sustainable and Cost-Effective Practices in Building Design and Construction)
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14 pages, 1855 KiB  
Article
Sustainable Investments in Construction: Cost–Benefit Analysis Between Rehabilitation and New Building in Romania
by Tudor Panfil Toader, Marta-Ioana Moldoveanu, Daniela-Mihaiela Boca, Raluca Iștoan, Lidia Maria Lupan, Aurelia Bradu, Andreea Hegyi and Ana Boga
Buildings 2025, 15(15), 2770; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings15152770 - 6 Aug 2025
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Abstract
Sustainable investments in construction are essential for the development of communities and for reducing environmental impacts. This study analyzes two scenarios: rehabilitation of an existing building and construction of a new NZEB-compliant building, based on a life cycle cost–benefit analysis. The results show [...] Read more.
Sustainable investments in construction are essential for the development of communities and for reducing environmental impacts. This study analyzes two scenarios: rehabilitation of an existing building and construction of a new NZEB-compliant building, based on a life cycle cost–benefit analysis. The results show that both scenarios generate negative Net Present Values (NPVs) due to the social nature of the project, but the new NZEB building presents superior performance (NPV: USD –2.61 million vs. USD –3.05 million for rehabilitation) and lower operational costs (USD 1.49 million vs. USD 1.92 million over 30 years). Key financial indicators (IRR, CBR), sensitivity analysis, and discount rate variation support the conclusion that the NZEB scenario ensures greater economic resilience. This study highlights the relevance of extended LCCBA in guiding sustainable investment decisions in social infrastructure. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advancing Sustainable and Cost-Effective Practices in Building Design and Construction)
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