Energy-Efficient Buildings: Latest Advances and Prospects

Dear Colleagues,

The built environment is a critical frontier in the global quest for energy sustainability and climate change mitigation. This Special Issue invites original research, comprehensive reviews, and case studies that explore cutting-edge, energy-efficient building design, technology, and policy. We seek contributions that go beyond incremental improvements, focusing on integrative, scalable, and transformative solutions for both new construction and deep energy retrofits. The Special Issue aims to bridge the gap between advanced research and practical implementation, offering a forward-looking perspective on how buildings can evolve from energy consumers to proactive, efficient, and grid-responsive nodes in a decarbonised energy system.

Potential Topics

We welcome submissions addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:

1. Advanced Building Envelope Systems:

• High-performance and dynamic facades (e.g., adaptive, biomimetic, photovoltaic-integrated).
• Innovations in insulation, glazing (vacuum, aerogel, smart windows), and air-tightness solutions.
• Application and optimisation of Phase Change Materials (PCMs) for passive thermal management.

2. Smart and Digitalised Building Energy Systems:

• AI and machine learning for energy-efficient building operation, predictive energy control, and energy-related fault detection.
• Digital twin technologies for building energy performance optimisation, energy system monitoring, and lifecycle energy management.
• IoT sensor networks and data analytics for real-time building energy management, demand response, and adaptive energy systems.
• Cybersecurity and interoperability in digital building energy infrastructures and smart energy ecosystems. 

3. Integrated Renewable Energy and Storage:

• Building-Integrated Photovoltaics, and solar thermal systems.
• Hybrid systems combining renewables with geothermal, ambient heat, etc.
• On-site and district-level thermal/electrical storage solutions for building applications.

4. Energy Performance and Occupant-Centric Energy Use:

• Occupant behaviour modelling and engagement strategies for energy-efficient building operation.
• Human–building interaction in relation to energy consumption patterns, comfort–energy trade-offs, and demand-side management.

5. Energy-Oriented Circularity and Lifecycle Perspectives:

• Low-carbon and bio-based materials with quantified impacts on building energy demand and operational carbon emissions.
• Lifecycle energy and carbon assessment of buildings, including design for energy efficiency, adaptability, and end-of-life energy considerations.
• Circular design strategies supporting long-term building energy performance and decarbonisation goals.

6. Grid Integration and Urban Scale:

• Grid-Interactive Efficient Buildings: demand response, vehicle-to-building, and building-to-grid services.
• Energy-sharing communities, positive energy districts, and microgrids.
• The role of buildings in urban resilience and climate adaptation.

7. Policy, Economics, and Market Transformation:

• Effectiveness of building codes, standards (e.g., Passive House, LEED Zero), and certification schemes.
• Innovative financing models for deep retrofits and high-performance new builds.
• Social equity and just transition in the building energy efficiency sector.

8. Case Studies and Demonstration Projects:

• Post-occupancy evaluation and lessons learned from innovative built projects.
• Performance data analysis of net-zero energy/carbon buildings.
• Scalable retrofit solutions for existing building stocks across different climates and typologies.

Prof. Dr. Amar Bennadji
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 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. 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.

• energy-efficient buildings, net-zero energy buildings
• building envelope innovations
• smart building controls
• phase change materials
• building-integrated renewable energy
• digital twins for buildings
• life cycle assessment
• indoor environmental quality
• building energy modelling
• passive house
• grid-interactive efficient buildings
• circular construction
• adaptive façades
• thermal energy storage
• occupant-centric design
• policy and standards for energy efficiency