Improvement of Indoor Environmental Quality and Energy Performance of Zero-Energy Buildings

Dear Colleagues,

This upcoming Special Issue of Energies, entitled "Improvement of Indoor Environmental Quality and Energy Performance of Zero-Energy Buildings", aims to explore the intersection between energy-efficient architecture and indoor environmental quality (IEQ). This publication acknowledges that zero-energy buildings, while pivotal in achieving sustainability targets, must also prioritize the well-being and comfort of their occupants.

As we transition toward more sustainable building practices, there is an increasing focus on designing zero-energy structures. These are buildings with net-zero energy consumption, achieved largely through energy-efficient systems and the use of renewable resources. However, the challenge remains to accomplish this while also maintaining or improving the indoor environmental quality, which includes parameters such as air quality, temperature, humidity, and lighting conditions.

We invite contributions presenting cutting-edge studies that reconcile the aims of energy efficiency and indoor environmental comfort. Topics to be covered include advanced HVAC systems designed for zero-energy buildings, the role of renewable energy sources like solar and wind in indoor environmental quality, and the application of smart systems and controls to achieve optimal energy performance without compromising comfort levels.

Moreover, this Issue will examine occupant behavior and its implications on energy use and indoor comfort, providing a human-centric perspective to building design and operation. We will also feature papers that discuss the modeling and simulation of zero-energy buildings, enabling better predictions concerning energy usage and internal environmental conditions. Case studies focusing on real-world applications and the performance monitoring of existing zero-energy structures will serve to bridge the gap between theory and practice.

By integrating academic research with practical insights, this Special Issue will serve as a comprehensive guide for architects, engineers, policymakers, and researchers engaged in creating the sustainable, energy-efficient buildings of the future.

Dr. Tiberiu Catalina
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.

• zero-energy buildings
• indoor environmental quality
• indoor comfort
• energy-efficient buildings