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Emerging Trends in Energy and Environmental Design Integrating New Services and Tools for Smart Cities and Smart Buildings

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A special issue of Energies (ISSN 1996-1073). This special issue belongs to the section "G1: Smart Cities and Urban Management".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 May 2025) | Viewed by 17162

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Saveria Olga Murielle Boulanger

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Guest Editor

Department of Architecture, University of Bologna, 40136 Bologna, Italy
Interests: smart city; built environment; smart building; smart district; smart neighbourhood; urban mitigation to climate change; urban adaptation to climate change; adaptation and mitigation; urban resilience; building energy efficiency; environmental impacts

Prof. Dr. Andrea Boeri

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Guest Editor

Department of Architecture, University of Bologna, 40100 Bologna, Italy
Interests: architectural technologies; energy efficiency; environmental sustainability; smart cities; resilient urban systems

Dr. Gonçalo Mendes

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Guest Editor

Laboratory of Electricity Markets and Power Systems, School of Energy Systems, Lappeenranta University of Technology (LUT), Lappeenranta, Finland
Interests: techno-economic modeling and analysis; policy; regulation; novel business models for behind-the-meter energy systems
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The last IPCC reports demonstrate how cities are still quite far from meeting the expected mitigation and adaptation targets for fighting climate change. The current energy crisis, the instability of the global political landscape and the rise in populism across Europe and worldwide are only some of the many challenges that society is facing nowadays. In this complex context, energy and environmental design can play a role in alleviating these issues, especially in the built environment and through the integration of digital and physical innovations with site-specific necessities. This is all the truer if it is matched with collaborative approaches which are able to fully integrate humans, communities, and citizens into the transition of the built environment, providing resources for their full engagement in urban transformations; additionally, ICTs can play a role in fostering their understanding and involvement in environmental matters.

Some recent key scientific contributions, together with the implementation of real projects in cities, show how there are many emerging trends in energy and environmental design that are at the forefront of the smart concepts being applied to cities and buildings: 1) digital and technological innovations that propose the application of IoT, machine learning, artificial intelligence, blockchain and building information modelling in cities and buildings for an optimized and highly informative immaterial network; 2) permeating service design solutions that make people’s lives easier and support their growth and wellbeing, while also including innovative forms of participation in the energy system, such as energy communities and the wider concept of energy citizenship; and 3) pervading nature-based solutions and softer uses of temporary architectures with natural elements and materials that combine the optimization of the indoor–outdoor environment with more qualitative and resilient public and private spaces.

This Special Issue of Energies is aimed at collecting scientific contributions on the emerging trends of smart buildings and smart cities, focusing on the implementation and development of innovative solutions and services for supporting energy efficiency, citizen participation in the energy sector, energy and resource flow optimization, environmental quality, and people empowerment and wellbeing both at the building and at the district/city scale, while also considering technical, social, economic, architectural and, in general, feasibility implications.

In this Special Issue, original research articles and reviews are welcome. Research areas may include (but are not limited to) the following:

Energy and environmental design emerging trends;
Smart cities and smart districts and their emerging trends;
Smart building innovations and integrated applications;
IoT, machine learning, artificial intelligence and blockchain applied to cities, districts and/or buildings;
Digital twins and the multiverse applied to cities, districts and/or buildings;
Integration of BIM into cities, districts and/or buildings;
Innovations in GIS for smart cities and smart districts;
Resource and energy flow optimization;
Energy communities and/or energy citizenship;
Energy optimization in buildings, cities and/or districts;
Nature-based solutions in buildings, cities and/or districts;
Environmental design and its impacts;
Environmental impacts of mitigation and adaptation strategies;
Impact frameworks of solutions applied at the city, district or building level;
Citizen-centred design approaches;
Service design for cities, districts and/or buildings;
Citizen science applied to cities, districts and/or buildings.

Dr. Saveria Olga Murielle Boulanger
Prof. Dr. Andrea Boeri
Dr. Gonçalo Mendes
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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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.

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Keywords

energy and environmental design emerging trends
smart cities and smart districts and their emerging trends
smart building innovations and integrated applications
IoT, machine learning, artificial intelligence and blockchain applied to cities, districts and/or buildings
digital twins and the multiverse applied to cities, districts and/or buildings
integration of BIM into cities, districts and/or buildings
innovations in GIS for smart cities and smart districts
resource and energy flow optimization
energy communities and/or energy citizenship
energy optimization in buildings, cities and/or districts
nature-based solutions in buildings, cities and/or districts
environmental design and its impacts
environmental impacts of mitigation and adaptation strategies
impact frameworks of solutions applied at the city, district or building level
citizen-centred design approaches
service design for cities, districts and/or buildings
citizen science applied to cities, districts and/or buildings

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Published Papers (8 papers)

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Research

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15 pages, 1385 KB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Comparative Analysis of Smart Building Solutions in Europe: Technological Advancements and Market Strategies

by Negar Mohtashami, Nils Sauer, Rita Streblow and Dirk Müller

Energies 2025, 18(3), 682; https://doi.org/10.3390/en18030682 - 1 Feb 2025

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1674

Abstract

This paper provides a comprehensive comparative analysis of smart building solution providers within Europe, emphasizing the technological advancements and market strategies employed by companies selected for the study. As energy efficiency becomes a critical focus due to rising global energy demands and climate change concerns, smart building technologies have emerged as pivotal in optimizing energy use and enhancing occupant comfort. This study examines 19 products from 15 prominent manufacturers, categorized into six product categories: smart thermostats, smart valves, HVAC control, data acquisition and energy management software, smart home ecosystems, and home energy management systems. Using a comparative assessment matrix and SWOT analysis, the paper evaluates these products across five key areas: service impacts, market penetration, investment topics, business models, and value propositions. Findings highlight a strong focus of manufacturers in energy efficiency and comfort services, while identifying opportunities for improvement in energy flexibility and health integration. This analysis aims to guide stakeholders in strategic planning and decision-making, offering insights into the current and future landscape of the smart building solutions market. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Emerging Trends in Energy and Environmental Design Integrating New Services and Tools for Smart Cities and Smart Buildings)

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33 pages, 2184 KB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Integrated Energy and Environmental Modeling to Design Cost-Effective Building Solutions at a Regional Level

by Mariana Januário, Ricardo Gomes, Patrícia Baptista and Paulo Ferrão

Energies 2024, 17(22), 5730; https://doi.org/10.3390/en17225730 - 15 Nov 2024

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 967

Abstract

This study introduces a computationally efficient urban building energy model (UBEM) to assess decarbonization strategies for the residential sector at the regional level. The model considers a range of inputs, including building characteristics, climate data, technology penetration, and occupant behavior. The model provides an economic analysis associating emission reduction potential with economic returns through an abatement cost curve, which is critical to designing cost-effective solutions. The model was validated at its full scale in Portugal, using actual consumption data from all municipalities. Key findings showed that lighting upgrades (100% LEDs) are the most cost-effective measure, offering the lowest abatement cost (−521 EUR/tonCO₂eq) and a low discounted payback period of 2 years, while heat pumps for water heating provide the highest emission reduction potential, with an annual reduction of 863 tonnes of CO₂eq annually, equivalent to a 20% reduction in national emissions. Additionally, behavioral measures achieved an annual reduction of 147 tonnes of CO₂eq. The analysis further reveals that, while some measures might have a negative abatement cost at the national level, their economic viability varies locally, with certain municipalities incurring positive abatement costs, highlighting how local context affects the economic viability of decarbonization strategies. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Emerging Trends in Energy and Environmental Design Integrating New Services and Tools for Smart Cities and Smart Buildings)

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27 pages, 5931 KB

Open AccessArticle

Environmental Design on Site-Specific Energy Solidary Communities around Public High Schools in the Metropolitan Area of Naples (Italy)

by Roberto Bosco, Savino Giacobbe, Salvatore Losco, Louise Anna Mozingo and Renata Valente

Energies 2024, 17(10), 2247; https://doi.org/10.3390/en17102247 - 7 May 2024

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1397

Abstract

Renewable energy communities (RECs) around photovoltaic systems on public buildings are optimal solutions to counter energy poverty, ensuring all stakeholders access to cheap, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy systems. As the neighborhood is the minimum suitable unit for the implementation of highly sustainable settlements, this article discusses the potential and criticality of RECs at this scale in southern Italy. Starting with the concept of RECs, this study presents a methodology to size sustainable urban communities around school buildings. It integrates practical energy indicators with those defining performance in vegetation and water management. The impact of these factors is analyzed to identify the ideal community size in terms of energy efficiency, economic value, and social cohesion. An interactive scorecard ranks high school sites suitable for transformation into community hubs, taking into consideration the scale of substation distribution. The findings provide empirically validated operational guidelines and best practices to support the transition to smart, efficient, and socially inclusive communities. At the urban scale, the analysis evaluates different urban morphologies, microclimates, characteristics and density of buildings, and population around each assumed community hub. The study provides valuable guidance to local designers, planners, and administrators for the implementation of sustainable technologies by preparing a map of potential RECs. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Emerging Trends in Energy and Environmental Design Integrating New Services and Tools for Smart Cities and Smart Buildings)

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Review

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14 pages, 1037 KB

Open AccessFeature PaperReview

Assessing Critical Raw Materials and Their Supply Risk in Energy Technologies—A Literature Review

by Francesco Montana, Maurizio Cellura, Maria Luisa Di Silvestre, Sonia Longo, Le Quyen Luu, Eleonora Riva Sanseverino and Giuseppe Sciumè

Energies 2025, 18(1), 86; https://doi.org/10.3390/en18010086 - 28 Dec 2024

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2112

Abstract

Climate change is leading modern society to seek innovative solutions for sustainable development and a zero-carbon economy. Nevertheless, new technologies strongly rely on precious raw materials and might suffer from supply chain risks. The European Union has identified a set of raw materials deemed to be critical or strategic because they appear essential for energy transition technologies. Consequently, long-term energy system planning must factor in the availability of these critical raw materials when selecting specific technologies, as their supply could be affected by global policies or conflicts. This paper provides a literature review on the assessment of critical raw materials in energy technologies comparing the main approaches on critical raw materials content assessment in technologies, long-term planning studies considering critical raw materials, and the development of indicators for critical raw materials content in energy technologies. The main findings of this review suggest that existing reliable databases with the bill of materials, such as life cycle inventories, should be exploited and that proper indicators to rank the criticality of materials and the importance of a specific technology should be developed. These findings are discussed and organized proposing a method for the optimal planning of an energy technologies mix in regional or national energy systems considering the availability and future supply of critical raw materials. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Emerging Trends in Energy and Environmental Design Integrating New Services and Tools for Smart Cities and Smart Buildings)

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32 pages, 8187 KB

Open AccessReview

Power Quality Control Using Superconducting Magnetic Energy Storage in Power Systems with High Penetration of Renewables: A Review of Systems and Applications

by António J. Arsénio Costa and Hugo Morais

Energies 2024, 17(23), 6028; https://doi.org/10.3390/en17236028 - 29 Nov 2024

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1565

Abstract

The increasing deployment of decentralized power generation based on intermittent renewable resources to reach environmental targets creates new challenges for power systems stability. Several technologies and approaches have been proposed in recent years including the use of superconducting magnetic energy storage. This study focuses on the review of existing superconducting magnetic energy storage systems for power quality control purposes. Such systems can supply and absorb the rated power level within seconds, promoting fast power quality regulation. Systems for power quality services such as frequency regulation, power oscillation damping, power fluctuation suppression, and active power filtering are identified and described. First, the physical characterization of superconducting magnets concerning geometries, materials, associated inductances, and nominal magnetic energy storage capacities is conducted. Then, the functional description of several current conversion circuits and systems used as interfaces for superconducting magnets is performed. The existing methodologies and systems to perform the control of current converters for different power control services and applications are also identified and described. Finally, the results regarding the number of different systems identified for each power quality control service are presented, and their applicability is discussed based on the adopted control approach. Challenges concerning the development of new systems to improve the power quality on grids with high penetration of decentralized energy resources from intermittent renewables are also identified. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Emerging Trends in Energy and Environmental Design Integrating New Services and Tools for Smart Cities and Smart Buildings)

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21 pages, 3720 KB

Open AccessFeature PaperReview

Smart City and Energy: A Bibliometric Review of the Smart City and Smart Energy Concept from the Perspective of the Bioclimatic Approach

by Saveria Olga Murielle Boulanger

Energies 2024, 17(11), 2486; https://doi.org/10.3390/en17112486 - 22 May 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1449

Abstract

Smart Cities have emerged as a promising approach for transforming urban living into more sustainable and resilient systems through technology-driven innovations and data-driven governance. Despite its growing implementation and diffusion around the globe, many questions surrounding this topic have emerged. Many critics have emerged since its first conceptualization in the first decade of the current century. Smart Cities have been criticized for their utopian objectives and the security, safety, people’s freedom, and privacy within these systems. There are also capitalistic and neoliberalism-related critiques. Other critiques also highlight the current climate cost of Smart City initiatives. In the context of those critiques, bioclimatic and passive strategies might provide an interesting evolution of the concept but seem to be left in the background. This paper aims to contribute to the understanding of the linkages between environmental design approaches and the Smart City discourse. The contribution will explore to which extent bioclimatic and environmental design principles are present in the Smart City discourse and what the patterns are inside the current literature. The methodology of the research included a quali-quantitative analysis of the body of literature in Scopus and a bibliometric analysis using the VOS Viewer tool. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Emerging Trends in Energy and Environmental Design Integrating New Services and Tools for Smart Cities and Smart Buildings)

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27 pages, 2130 KB

Open AccessFeature PaperEditor’s ChoiceReview

Trends and Evolution of the GIS-Based Photovoltaic Potential Calculation

by Sebastiano Anselmo and Maria Ferrara

Energies 2023, 16(23), 7760; https://doi.org/10.3390/en16237760 - 24 Nov 2023

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2731

Abstract

In the current framework of energy transition, renewable energy production has gained a renewed relevance. A set of 75 papers was selected from the existing literature and critically analyzed to understand the main inputs and tools used to calculate solar energy and derive theoretical photovoltaic production based on geographic information systems (GISs). A heterogeneous scenario for solar energy estimation emerged from the analysis, with a prevalence of 2.5D tools—mainly ArcGIS and QGIS—whose calculation is refined chiefly by inputting weather data from databases. On the other hand, despite some minor changes, the formula for calculating the photovoltaic potential is widely acknowledged and includes solar energy, exploitable surface, performance ratio, and panel efficiency. While sectorial studies—targeting a specific component of the calculation—are sound, the comprehensive ones are generally problematic due to excessive simplification of some parts. Moreover, validation is often lacking or, when present, only partial. The research on the topic is in constant evolution, increasingly moving towards purely 3D models and refining the estimation to include the time component—both in terms of life cycle and variations between days and seasons. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Emerging Trends in Energy and Environmental Design Integrating New Services and Tools for Smart Cities and Smart Buildings)

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22 pages, 5292 KB

Open AccessReview

Energy Conservation at Home: A Critical Review on the Role of End-User Behavior

by Lia Marchi and Jacopo Gaspari

Energies 2023, 16(22), 7596; https://doi.org/10.3390/en16227596 - 15 Nov 2023

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 3845

Abstract

The recent literature emphasizes the significance of occupants’ behavior in shaping home energy demand. Several policies have been defined and tools and technologies have been developed to raise people’s awareness and encourage energy-saving practices at home, but households’ energy demand keeps rising. The thesis is that the fundamentals on this topic are still unclear and that available tools, strategies and measures should be approached in a more integrated way, as they are not now effective enough to encourage energy savings. How these could be successfully combined is still a major knowledge gap. Thus, this article proposes a critical review of the literature to discuss the potential role of end users in energy conservation at home, preparing the ground for truly effective engagement strategies and tools to encourage behavioral change. To that end, a systematic literature review is performed, including over 130 relevant articles. According to the critical interpretation of their content, after years of technologically driven strategies, the most promising approaches capable of overcoming the intention–action gap are those more user-centered. However, relying solely on the social aspect is not effective. Synergistic integration of the two main clusters of studies has been identified as a promising field of research for the future. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Emerging Trends in Energy and Environmental Design Integrating New Services and Tools for Smart Cities and Smart Buildings)

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