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Advanced Technologies for Energy-Efficient Buildings
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Advanced Technologies for Energy-Efficient Buildings

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 5 September 2025 | Viewed by 2947

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Martha Katafygiotou

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Real Estate, School of Architecture, Engineering, Land and Sciences, Neapolis University Pafos, Pafos 8042, Cyprus
Interests: energy and buildings; sustainable architecture; indoor comfort; energy efficiency; built environment; real estate
Dr. Chrystala Psathiti

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor Assistant
Department of Architecture, Land and Environmental Sciences, School of Architecture, Engineering, Land and Sciences, Neapolis University Pafos, Pafos 8042, Cyprus
Interests: adaptive reappropriation; educational buildings; spatial analysis, evidence-based approaches; advanced data manipulation; socio-spatial sustainability

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue on "Advanced Technologies for Energy-Efficient Buildings" focuses on innovative approaches and technologies that improve the energy efficiency of buildings. It explores solutions for reducing energy consumption and minimizing environmental impacts in both residential and commercial structures. It incorporates a wide range of innovative topics that address both technical and socio-spatial aspects of energy efficiency in the built environment. The Issue brings together research and case studies that contribute to the development of greener, more sustainable building practices.

Topics include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Smart building systems: Integration of intelligent controls and automation for optimizing energy use.
  • Energy-efficient materials: Use of sustainable, high-performance materials in construction and insulation.
  • Renewable energy integration: Systems like solar panels, wind energy, and heat pumps that can be incorporated into building designs.
  • Energy management systems: Software and hardware solutions to monitor and control energy consumption.
  • Retrofitting strategies: Upgrading existing buildings with modern technologies to improve energy efficiency.
  • Adaptive reappropriation: Techniques for repurposing existing structures, such as retrofitting old buildings to improve energy performance and sustainability, while preserving their architectural integrity.
  • Educational buildings: Case studies and research on the application of energy-efficient technologies in schools and universities, creating more sustainable learning environments.
  • Spatial analysis and evidence-based approaches: The use of advanced spatial analytics to understand how building design impacts energy use. Evidence-based approaches ensure that design decisions are supported by data, optimizing energy consumption in different spaces.
  • Socio-spatial sustainability: Investigating the relationship between social factors, space utilization, and sustainability, focusing on how energy-efficient buildings can enhance social well-being and community cohesion.

Dr. Martha Katafygiotou
Guest Editor

Dr. Chrystala Psathiti
Guest Editor Assistant

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

  • energy-efficient buildings
  • adaptive reappropriation
  • educational buildings
  • smart building systems
  • spatial analysis
  • evidence-based design
  • renewable energy integration
  • advanced data manipulation
  • retrofitting strategies
  • socio-spatial sustainability
  • sustainable materials
  • intelligent energy management
  • building automation systems
  • green building technologies
  • thermal performance optimization

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

Published Papers (3 papers)

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Review

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21 pages, 3047 KiB  
Review
Microgeneration of Electricity in Gyms—A Review and Conceptual Study
by Waldemar Moska and Andrzej Łebkowski
Energies 2025, 18(11), 2912; https://doi.org/10.3390/en18112912 - 2 Jun 2025
Viewed by 436
Abstract
This article presents a comprehensive analysis of the potential for microgeneration of electrical energy from human physical activity and reviews current commercial and research solutions, including stationary bicycles, treadmills, rowing ergometers, strength equipment, and kinetic floor systems. The physiological foundations of human energy [...] Read more.
This article presents a comprehensive analysis of the potential for microgeneration of electrical energy from human physical activity and reviews current commercial and research solutions, including stationary bicycles, treadmills, rowing ergometers, strength equipment, and kinetic floor systems. The physiological foundations of human energy generation are examined, with attention to key factors such as age, gender, fitness level, maximum oxygen uptake, heart rate, and hydration. The study includes mathematical models of energy conversion from metabolic to electrical output, incorporating fatigue as a limiting factor in long-duration performance. Available energy storage technologies (e.g., lithium-ion batteries, supercapacitors, and flywheels) and intelligent energy management systems (EMS) for use in sports facilities and net-zero energy buildings are also reviewed. As part of the study, a conceptual design of a multifunctional training and diagnostic device is proposed to illustrate potential technological directions. This device integrates microgeneration with dynamic physiological monitoring and adaptive load control through power electronic conversion. The paper highlights both the opportunities and limitations of harvesting human-generated energy and outlines future directions for sustainable energy applications in fitness environments. A preliminary economic analysis is also included, showing that while the energy payback alone is limited, the device offers commercial potential when combined with diagnostic and smart fitness services and may contribute to broader building energy efficiency strategies through integration with intelligent energy systems. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Technologies for Energy-Efficient Buildings)
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35 pages, 3509 KiB  
Review
Energy Management Systems in Higher Education Institutions’ Buildings
by Enrique C. Quispe, Miguel Viveros Mira, Mauricio Chamorro Díaz, Rosaura Castrillón Mendoza and Juan R. Vidal Medina
Energies 2025, 18(7), 1810; https://doi.org/10.3390/en18071810 - 3 Apr 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1300
Abstract
This study reviews the methods used to implement energy management systems (EnMS) in higher education institutions (HEIs) and their impact on improving energy performance considering their relationship with the requirements for an EnMS according to ISO 50001. From 2310 articles, 136 articles and [...] Read more.
This study reviews the methods used to implement energy management systems (EnMS) in higher education institutions (HEIs) and their impact on improving energy performance considering their relationship with the requirements for an EnMS according to ISO 50001. From 2310 articles, 136 articles and 5 technical reports related to EnMS and energy efficiency were selected and analyzed. A synthesis of the major actions taken by HEIs to enhance their energy performance is presented, including energy management strategies, methods for measuring and estimating consumption, occupant behavior models that influence energy use, barriers to energy efficiency in HEIs buildings, and future challenges. It was found that studies on building energy management systems often do not incorporate an analysis of CO2 emissions reduction. Funding for this research is driven by directives and policies related to energy performance. These results should assist HEIs seeking to implement an EnMS to improve their energy performance and reduce CO2 emissions, thereby contributing to energy security, climate change mitigation, and fostering a new culture of energy use and consumption. It was also found that, although most studies do not explicitly mention the ISO 50001 standard, all of them comply with at least one of its requirements. Additionally, 27% of energy management strategies focus on operational aspects, while 26% involve energy audits, primarily through measurement, estimation, forecasting, energy reviews, and the establishment of an energy baseline (EnBL). Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Technologies for Energy-Efficient Buildings)
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Other

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27 pages, 4739 KiB  
Systematic Review
A System Thinking Approach to Circular-Based Strategies for Deep Energy Renovation: A Systematic Review
by Shantanu Ashok Raut, Lia Marchi and Jacopo Gaspari
Energies 2025, 18(10), 2494; https://doi.org/10.3390/en18102494 - 12 May 2025
Viewed by 552
Abstract
Over 85% of buildings in the European Union were constructed before 2001, contributing to energy inefficiencies, material waste, and increasing socio-economic disparities. While deep energy renovations (DER) are critical to EU climate goals, their implementation remains hindered by financial, regulatory, and social barriers. [...] Read more.
Over 85% of buildings in the European Union were constructed before 2001, contributing to energy inefficiencies, material waste, and increasing socio-economic disparities. While deep energy renovations (DER) are critical to EU climate goals, their implementation remains hindered by financial, regulatory, and social barriers. Integrating circular economy (CE) principles into DER offers a pathway to enhance resource efficiency and sustainability yet requires a systemic understanding of feedback dynamics. This study applies a systems-thinking approach to examine the interdependencies influencing CE-DER implementation. Five thematic clusters—technical enablers, economic and policy barriers, social sustainability factors, environmental considerations, and digitalization for climate resilience—are identified, informing the development of causal loop diagrams (CLDs). The CLDs reveal key reinforcing loops such as innovation investment, policy learning, stakeholder co-design, operational efficiency, and balancing loops, including certification bottlenecks, financial fragmentation, and digital resistance. The findings suggest that CE-DER success relies on activating reinforcing dynamics while addressing systemic constraints through coordinated financial incentives, ethical digitalization, and inclusive governance. By visualizing interdependencies across technical, social, and policy domains, the feedback-oriented framework developed provides actionable insights for advancing socially equitable, resource-efficient, and climate-resilient renovation strategies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Technologies for Energy-Efficient Buildings)
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