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Advanced Energy Systems in Energy Resilient and Flexible Zero/Positive Energy Buildings, Communities and Districts

A special issue of Energies (ISSN 1996-1073). This special issue belongs to the section "G: Energy and Buildings".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 24 November 2025 | Viewed by 1058

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, FI-02044 VTT Espoo, Finland
Interests: zero energy building; positive energy buildings; positive energy district; energy transition; energy system modelling; renewable energy systems integration; energy storages; energy flexibility; energy resilience in buildings and districts; sustainability
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The Building sector is important for cities around the world in its Climate Action efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. In general, they are responsible for approximately 40% of the EU’s energy consumption and 36% of the emissions. Therefore, energy in the buildings, communities and districts is one of the main fields for the mitigation of emissions and ensuring a sustainable, self-sufficient and safe future. This can be done by enhancing the energy efficiency and using advanced energy systems components of onsite renewable energy generation, conversion, and storage technologies in buildings, communities and districts, which can offset the imported energy from the grids. Various raising concepts for net-zero/positive energy buildings and districts (NZPEBDs) have emerged in recent years to shape cities in to carbon-neutral communities in the near future. In addition to this, the climate change and energy crises (disruptive events) can cause reduction in the building’s energy performance and impact the occupant well-being and habitability conditions especially during the power outage. These buildings and districts can also support in reaching self-sufficiency, flexibility, engage users and provide energy resilience during outages.

For this Special Issue, authors are kindly invited to submit high-quality papers on one or more of the following topics related to advanced energy systems in buildings and districts:

  • Concepts, definitions and KPIs development of energy resilience nearly/net/zero and positive energy buildings/communities/districts;
  • Energy efficiency of buildings in communities and districts;
  • Advanced HVAC systems in buildings;
  • Heating/cooling energy and electricity demand;
  • Advanced short/long-term energy storage for heating/cooling/electricity and controls;
  • Renewable-based energy generations and smart controls;
  • Energy resiliency of the buildings during grid outages under various weather, economical, political conditions;
  • Energy resilience in buildings/districts;
  • Active and passive habitability and survivability conditions in the buildings/districts
  • Energy flexibility offered by buildings, communities and districts to the grid;
  • Energy self-sufficiency of the buildings, communities and districts;
  • Advanced simulation and optimization methods;
  • Experience and results from demos and monitoring sites;
  • Economic-, social- and policy-related aspects;
  • User’s acceptance and engagement in communities and districts.

Dr. Hassam Ur Rehman
Guest Editor

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. Energies 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

  • nearly/net/zero and positive energy buildings/communities/districts
  • advanced energy systems
  • energy resiliency
  • energy flexibility
  • experience from demo sites
  • economic, social and policy aspects
  • user’s acceptance and engagement

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

27 pages, 6447 KiB  
Article
Optimizing Thermal Comfort with Adaptive Behaviours in South Australian Residential Buildings
by Szymon Firląg and Artur Miszczuk
Energies 2025, 18(13), 3498; https://doi.org/10.3390/en18133498 - 2 Jul 2025
Abstract
This study focuses on thermal comfort in residential buildings within the Iron Triangle area of South Australia, examining how indoor conditions influence residents’ comfort and adaptive behaviours. Conducted from June 2023 to February 2024 across 30 homes in Port Pirie, Port Augusta, and [...] Read more.
This study focuses on thermal comfort in residential buildings within the Iron Triangle area of South Australia, examining how indoor conditions influence residents’ comfort and adaptive behaviours. Conducted from June 2023 to February 2024 across 30 homes in Port Pirie, Port Augusta, and Whyalla, the research gathered data from 38 residents, who reported indoor comfort levels in living rooms and bedrooms. A total of 3540 responses were obtained. At the same time, the measurement of indoor conditions in the buildings was performed using a small HOBO MX1104 device. Using the Mean Thermal Sensation Vote (MTSV) concept, it was possible to determine the neutral operative temperature and temperature ranges for thermal comfort categories. According to the defined linear regression formula, the neutral temperature was 23.9 °C. In living rooms, it was slightly lower, at 23.7 °C, and in bedrooms, slightly higher, at 24.4 °C. For comparison, the neutral temperature was calculated based on the average Predicted Mean Vote (MPMV) and equal to 24.3 °C. Comparison of the regression curves showed that in terms of slope, the MPMV curve is steeper (slope 0.282) than the MTSV curve (slope 0.1726), and lies above it. Regarding the residents’ behaviour, a strong correlation was found between the operative temperature To and the degree of clothing Icl in living rooms. Use of ceiling fans was also studied. A clear trend was also observed regarding window and door opening. The findings of the research can be used to inform the design and operation of residential buildings with a view to enhancing thermal comfort and energy efficiency. Full article
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28 pages, 2343 KiB  
Article
Leveraging Social Innovation Tools for Advancing Innovative Technologies Towards a Just Energy Transition in Greece
by Paraskevi Giourka, Vasiliki Palla, Ioannis-Athanasios Zornatzis, Komninos Angelakoglou and Georgios Martinopoulos
Energies 2025, 18(13), 3435; https://doi.org/10.3390/en18133435 - 30 Jun 2025
Abstract
This study investigates the social and economic dimensions of Greece’s energy transition, focusing on the distinct contexts of mainland Western Macedonia and Insular Greece. Utilizing social innovation tools, including the Stakeholder Persona and the Iceberg Model, the research reveals significant regional variations in [...] Read more.
This study investigates the social and economic dimensions of Greece’s energy transition, focusing on the distinct contexts of mainland Western Macedonia and Insular Greece. Utilizing social innovation tools, including the Stakeholder Persona and the Iceberg Model, the research reveals significant regional variations in stakeholder concerns, priorities, and awareness levels regarding energy transition issues. Findings indicate that while Insular Greece prioritizes energy security and public acceptance of renewable energy solutions, mainland Greece emphasizes job security and economic diversification. The study highlights the necessity for tailored energy transition strategies that address local needs and foster community engagement. Furthermore, it underscores the importance of enhancing awareness and understanding of methodologies such as Life Cycle Assessment and Life Cycle Cost Analysis to empower stakeholders in making informed decisions. Integrating insights from various layers of the Iceberg Model, this research provides a framework for developing innovative technologies and policies that support a fair and sustainable energy transition in Greece, ensuring that no community is left behind in the global shift towards sustainability. This comprehensive approach seeks to mitigate environmental impacts but also to create economic opportunities that align with each community’s social and cultural fabric. Full article
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20 pages, 2009 KiB  
Article
Optimizing Energy and Cost Performance in Residential Buildings: A Multi-Objective Approach Applied to the City of Patras, Greece
by Dionyssis Makris, Anastasia Antzoulatou, Alexandros Romaios, Sonia Malefaki, John A. Paravantis, Athanassios Giannadakis and Giouli Mihalakakou
Energies 2025, 18(13), 3361; https://doi.org/10.3390/en18133361 - 26 Jun 2025
Viewed by 134
Abstract
Improving the energy efficiency of buildings is a critical pathway in mitigating greenhouse gas emissions and fostering sustainable urban development. This study introduces a simulation-based multi-objective optimization framework designed to enhance both the thermal and economic performance of residential buildings. A representative single-family [...] Read more.
Improving the energy efficiency of buildings is a critical pathway in mitigating greenhouse gas emissions and fostering sustainable urban development. This study introduces a simulation-based multi-objective optimization framework designed to enhance both the thermal and economic performance of residential buildings. A representative single-family dwelling located in Patras, Greece, served as a case study to demonstrate the application and scalability of the proposed methodology. The optimization simultaneously minimized two conflicting objectives: the building’s annual thermal energy demand and the cost of construction materials. The computational process was implemented using MATLAB’s Multi-Objective Genetic Algorithm, supported by a modular Excel interface that enables the dynamic customization of design parameters and climatic inputs. A parametric analysis across four optimization scenarios was conducted by systematically varying the key algorithmic hyperparameters—population size, mutation rate, and number of generations—to assess their impact on convergence behavior, Pareto front resolution, and solution diversity. The results confirmed the algorithm’s robustness in producing technically feasible and non-dominated solutions, while also highlighting the sensitivity of optimization outcomes to hyperparameter tuning. The proposed framework is a flexible, reproducible, and computationally tractable approach to supporting early-stage, performance-driven building design under realistic constraints. Full article
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24 pages, 3994 KiB  
Article
Smart Charging Recommendation Framework for Electric Vehicles: A Machine-Learning-Based Approach for Residential Buildings
by Nikolaos Tsalikidis, Paraskevas Koukaras, Dimosthenis Ioannidis and Dimitrios Tzovaras
Energies 2025, 18(6), 1528; https://doi.org/10.3390/en18061528 - 19 Mar 2025
Viewed by 492
Abstract
The transition to a decarbonized energy sector, driven by the integration of Renewable Energy Sources (RESs), smart building technology, and the rise of Electric Vehicles (EVs), has highlighted the need for optimized energy system planning. Increasing EV adoption creates additional challenges for charging [...] Read more.
The transition to a decarbonized energy sector, driven by the integration of Renewable Energy Sources (RESs), smart building technology, and the rise of Electric Vehicles (EVs), has highlighted the need for optimized energy system planning. Increasing EV adoption creates additional challenges for charging infrastructure and grid demand, while proactive and informed decisions by residential EV users can help mitigate such challenges. Our work develops a smart residential charging framework that assists residents in making informed decisions about optimal EV charging. The framework integrates a machine-learning-based forecasting engine that consists of two components: a stacking and voting meta-ensemble regressor for predicting EV charging load and a bidirectional LSTM for forecasting national net energy exchange using real-world data from local road traffic, residential charging sessions, and grid net energy exchange flow. The combined forecasting outputs are passed through a data-driven weighting mechanism to generate probabilistic recommendations that identify optimal charging periods, aiming to alleviate grid stress and ensure efficient operation of local charging infrastructure. The framework’s modular design ensures adaptability to local charging infrastructure within or nearby building complexes, making it a versatile tool for enhancing energy efficiency in residential settings. Full article
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