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Advancements in Super-Low-Energy Buildings: Innovations for Extreme Climate Conditions
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Advancements in Super-Low-Energy Buildings: Innovations for Extreme Climate Conditions

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 December 2025 | Viewed by 2064

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Shisheng Chen

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Architecture and Urban-Rural Planning, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou 350108, China
Interests: urban microclimate; urban cooling; building energy efficiency; heat stress and heat strain
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Wen Zhang

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Architecture, School of Architecture and Design, Beijing Jiaotong University, Beijing 100044, China
Interests: solar building; green building; building integrated photovoltaic; urban microclimate; urban heat island
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Zhongqi Yu

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Architecture, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
Interests: urban heat island; zero energy building; sports facility; urban microclimate
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Yang He

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Donghua University, Shanghai 201620, China
Interests: building integrated photovoltaic; vertical greenery; urban microclimate; building energy simulation

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The Super-Low-Energy (SLE) Building program represents the latest advancement in Singapore's green building initiative. SLE buildings are designed with top-tier energy efficiency, incorporating both onsite and offsite renewable energy sources, along with advanced energy management strategies. This Special Issue seeks to bring together cutting-edge research related to the design of SLE buildings for extreme climate conditions. As global temperatures rise and climate change intensifies, the need for innovative low-carbon technologies becomes imminent. This issue aims at emphasizing recent progress in various aspects of building design, materials, and strategies that contribute to improved energy efficiency, sustainability, and occupant comfort in challenging climates.

Topics of Interest:

We welcome original research articles, case studies, and review papers on the following topics:

  1. Low-Carbon Technologies:
  • Innovations in energy-efficient building systems;
  • Renewable energy integration in building design;
  • Smart grid technologies and energy management systems.
  1. Building Materials and Design:
  • The development and application of sustainable building materials;
  • Passive design strategies for extreme climate conditions;
  • Advances in insulation, reflective surfaces, and thermal mass utilization.
  1. Indoor Environmental Quality:
  • Strategies to enhance indoor air quality and thermal comfort;
  • The impact of extreme climate on occupant health and productivity;
  • Adaptive building design for occupant comfort in fluctuating conditions.
  1. Climate Resilience:
  • Strategies for climate adaptation and resilience in building design;
  • Risk assessment and management for extreme weather events;
  • Case studies of successful super-low-energy buildings in extreme climates.
  1. Policy and Regulations:
  • The assessment of policies promoting super-low-energy buildings;
  • The role of building codes and standards in enhancing energy efficiency;
  • An economic analysis of low-carbon technologies in building retrofits.
  1. Behavioral Aspects:
  • The influence of occupant behavior on energy consumption;
  • Strategies for promoting energy-efficient practices among occupants;
  • Behavioral adaptation to indoor environmental conditions.

Dr. Shisheng Chen
Dr. Wen Zhang
Dr. Zhongqi Yu
Dr. Yang He
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

  • super-low-energy buildings
  • extreme climate
  • low carbon technologies
  • sustainable building materials
  • indoor environmental quality
  • climate responsive design
  • occupant behavior
  • renewable energy

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

15 pages, 1337 KB  
Article
Application of Prefabricated Public Buildings in Rural Areas with Extreme Hot–Humid Climate: A Case Study of the Yongtai County Digital Industrial Park, Fuzhou, China
by Xin Wu, Jiaying Wang, Ruitao Zhang, Qianru Bi and Jinghan Pan
Buildings 2025, 15(15), 2767; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings15152767 - 6 Aug 2025
Viewed by 423
Abstract
Accomplishing China’s national targets of carbon peaking and carbon neutrality necessitates proactive solutions, hinging critically on fundamentally transforming rural construction models. Current construction practices in rural areas are characterized by inefficiency, high resource consumption, and reliance on imported materials. These shortcomings not only [...] Read more.
Accomplishing China’s national targets of carbon peaking and carbon neutrality necessitates proactive solutions, hinging critically on fundamentally transforming rural construction models. Current construction practices in rural areas are characterized by inefficiency, high resource consumption, and reliance on imported materials. These shortcomings not only jeopardize the attainment of climate objectives, but also hinder equitable development between urban and rural regions. Using the Digital Industrial Park in Yongtai County, Fuzhou City, as a case study, this study focuses on prefabricated public buildings in regions with extreme hot–humid climate, and innovatively integrates BIM (Building Information Modeling)-driven carbon modeling with the Gaussian Two-Step Floating Catchment Area (G2SFCA) method for spatial accessibility assessment to investigate the carbon emissions and economic benefits of prefabricated buildings during the embodied stage, and analyzes the spatial accessibility of prefabricated building material suppliers in Fuzhou City and identifies associated bottlenecks, seeking pathways to promote sustainable rural revitalization. Compared with traditional cast-in-situ buildings, embodied carbon emissions of prefabricated during their materialization phase significantly reduced. This dual-perspective approach ensures that the proposed solutions possess both technical rigor and logistical feasibility. Promoting this model across rural areas sharing similar climatic conditions would advance the construction industry’s progress towards the dual carbon goals. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advancements in Super-Low-Energy Buildings: Innovations for Extreme Climate Conditions)
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39 pages, 9517 KB  
Article
Multidimensional Evaluation Framework and Classification Strategy for Low-Carbon Technologies in Office Buildings
by Hongjiang Liu, Yuan Song, Yawei Du, Tao Feng and Zhihou Yang
Buildings 2025, 15(15), 2689; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings15152689 - 30 Jul 2025
Viewed by 384
Abstract
The global climate crisis has driven unprecedented agreements among nations on carbon mitigation. With China’s commitment to carbon peaking and carbon neutrality targets, the building sector has emerged as a critical focus for emission reduction, particularly because office buildings account for over 30% [...] Read more.
The global climate crisis has driven unprecedented agreements among nations on carbon mitigation. With China’s commitment to carbon peaking and carbon neutrality targets, the building sector has emerged as a critical focus for emission reduction, particularly because office buildings account for over 30% of building energy consumption. However, a systematic and regionally adaptive low-carbon technology evaluation framework is lacking. To address this gap, this study develops a multidimensional decision-making system to quantify and rank low-carbon technologies for office buildings in Beijing. The method includes four core components: (1) establishing three archetypal models—low-rise (H ≤ 24 m), mid-rise (24 m < H ≤ 50 m), and high-rise (50 m < H ≤ 100 m) office buildings—based on 99 office buildings in Beijing; (2) classifying 19 key technologies into three clusters—Envelope Structure Optimization, Equipment Efficiency Enhancement, and Renewable Energy Utilization—using bibliometric analysis and policy norm screening; (3) developing a four-dimensional evaluation framework encompassing Carbon Reduction Degree (CRD), Economic Viability Degree (EVD), Technical Applicability Degree (TAD), and Carbon Intensity Degree (CID); and (4) conducting a comprehensive quantitative evaluation using the AHP-entropy-TOPSIS algorithm. The results indicate distinct priority patterns across the building types: low-rise buildings prioritize roof-mounted photovoltaic (PV) systems, LED lighting, and thermal-break aluminum frames with low-E double-glazed laminated glass. Mid- and high-rise buildings emphasize integrated PV-LED-T8 lighting solutions and optimized building envelope structures. Ranking analysis further highlights LED lighting, T8 high-efficiency fluorescent lamps, and rooftop PV systems as the top-recommended technologies for Beijing. Additionally, four policy recommendations are proposed to facilitate the large-scale implementation of the program. This study presents a holistic technical integration strategy that simultaneously enhances the technological performance, economic viability, and carbon reduction outcomes of architectural design and renovation. It also establishes a replicable decision-support framework for decarbonizing office and public buildings in cities, thereby supporting China’s “dual carbon” goals and contributing to global carbon mitigation efforts in the building sector. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advancements in Super-Low-Energy Buildings: Innovations for Extreme Climate Conditions)
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24 pages, 13285 KB  
Article
Photovoltaic Application Design for Non-Residential Areas in Existing High-Density Residential Areas in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China
by Wen Zhang, Pan Wang, Xiaohua Cheng, Shisheng Chen, Yuhan Chen and Pengfei Zhang
Buildings 2025, 15(14), 2399; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings15142399 - 8 Jul 2025
Viewed by 325
Abstract
As global climate change intensifies and energy crises deepen, photovoltaic (PV) applications in cities are increasingly garnering attention worldwide. In this context, retrofitting existing high-density residential areas with PV applications is becoming a focus of urban low-carbon development. As the most densely populated [...] Read more.
As global climate change intensifies and energy crises deepen, photovoltaic (PV) applications in cities are increasingly garnering attention worldwide. In this context, retrofitting existing high-density residential areas with PV applications is becoming a focus of urban low-carbon development. As the most densely populated city in Western China, Chengdu is characterized by rapid development and high energy consumption. The widespread application of photovoltaic (PV) systems could significantly alleviate its energy consumption issues. This research investigated the PV application potentials of 27 non-residential areas in high-density residential areas in Chengdu, Sichuan Province from a design perspective and proposed design recommendations for PV applications in these spaces. In addition, this study analyzed urban morphological factors affecting the PV generation potential in non-residential areas through a Pearson correlation. The key factors influencing the PV application potential in these areas were building density (BD), non-residential area perimeter-to-area ratio (NBPAR), and maximum building height (Hmax). This research aims to provide new strategies and methods for the low-carbon transformation of future urban high-density residential areas. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advancements in Super-Low-Energy Buildings: Innovations for Extreme Climate Conditions)
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21 pages, 18928 KB  
Article
Optimizing the Food–Energy–Water Nexus: A Multi-Objective Spatial Configuration Framework for High-Density Communities
by Jie Zheng, Hengyu Li, Lulu Sun, Mingxuan Li and Yukun Zhang
Buildings 2025, 15(13), 2196; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings15132196 - 23 Jun 2025
Viewed by 488
Abstract
Global urbanization and climate change are intensifying challenges in the sustainable management of the Food–Energy–Water (FEW) system. This study introduces a multi-objective optimization framework that redefines urban spaces through a dual rooftop-ground hierarchy, interlinkage nodes for mapping material and energy flows, and the [...] Read more.
Global urbanization and climate change are intensifying challenges in the sustainable management of the Food–Energy–Water (FEW) system. This study introduces a multi-objective optimization framework that redefines urban spaces through a dual rooftop-ground hierarchy, interlinkage nodes for mapping material and energy flows, and the application of NSGA-II optimization to balance food production, energy output, and costs. The framework was applied to a case study area, generating non-dominated solutions with diverse resource-cost configurations. The findings revealed that optimal scenarios could meet 40.6% of local energy demands and exceed 102.9% of local grain demands, while maintaining economic viability. This approach bridges resource systems theory and spatial planning practice, providing economically viable pathways for high-density cities to transform into hybrid production-consumption spaces, effectively addressing the dual pressures of urbanization and climate change. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advancements in Super-Low-Energy Buildings: Innovations for Extreme Climate Conditions)
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