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A special issue of Processes (ISSN 2227-9717). This special issue belongs to the section "Sustainable Processes".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 September 2025 | Viewed by 5013

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Special Issue Editor

Dr. Dimitra Papadaki

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Guest Editor

Group of Building Environmental Studies, Physics Department, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 157 84 Athens, Greece
Interests: environmental sciences; energy efficiency; built environment; life cycle analysis; circularity; sustainability
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue on the "Sustainable Development of Energy and Environment in Buildings" will focus on exploring innovative technologies and practices aimed at enhancing energy efficiency and environmental sustainability in the built environment.

Key topics include the decarbonization of the building stock, circular economy in the built environment, the integration of renewable energy sources, advancements in building materials and design, smart building technologies, and policies promoting green building practices.

Publications can include case studies, research findings, and theoretical developments that contribute to reducing the environmental impact of buildings while improving their energy performance and sustainability.

Dr. Dimitra Papadaki
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. Processes is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly 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 2400 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

sustainability
buildings
energy efficiency
circularity
smart buildings
decarbonization

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Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

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21 pages, 2139 KB

Open AccessArticle

Reclaimed Municipal Wastewater Sand as a Viable Aggregate in Cement Mortars: Alkaline Treatment, Performance, Assessment, and Circular Construction Applications

by Beata Łaźniewska-Piekarczyk and Monika Jolanta Czop

Processes 2025, 13(8), 2463; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr13082463 - 4 Aug 2025

Viewed by 469

Abstract

This study evaluates the potential use of reclaimed sand from municipal wastewater treatment plants (WWTP), categorized as waste under code 19 08 02, as a full substitute for natural sand in cement mortars. The sand was subjected to alkaline pretreatment using sodium hydroxide (NaOH) at concentrations of 0.5%, 1% and 2% to reduce organic impurities and improve surface cleanliness. All mortar mixes were prepared using CEM I 42.5 R as the binder, maintaining a constant water-to-cement ratio of 0.5. Mechanical testing revealed that mortars produced with 100% WWTP-derived sand, pretreated with 0.5% NaOH, achieved a mean compressive strength of 51.9 MPa and flexural strength of 5.63 MPa after 28 days, nearly equivalent to reference mortars with standardized construction sand (52.7 MPa and 6.64 MPa, respectively). In contrast, untreated WWTP sand resulted in a significant performance reduction, with compressive strength averaging 30.0 MPa and flexural strength ranging from 2.55 to 2.93 MPa. The results demonstrate that low-alkaline pretreatment—particularly with 0.5% NaOH—allows for the effective reuse of WWTP waste sand (code 19 08 02) in cement mortars based on CEM I 42.5 R, achieving performance comparable to conventional materials. Although higher concentrations, such as 2% NaOH, are commonly recommended or required by standards for the removal of organic matter from fine aggregates, the results suggest that lower concentrations (e.g., 0.5%) may offer a better balance between cleaning effectiveness and mechanical performance. Nevertheless, 2% NaOH remains the obligatory reference level in some standard testing protocols for fine aggregate purification. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Development of Energy and Environment in Buildings)

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18 pages, 3899 KB

Open AccessArticle

Multi-Agent-Based Estimation and Control of Energy Consumption in Residential Buildings

by Otilia Elena Dragomir and Florin Dragomir

Processes 2025, 13(7), 2261; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr13072261 - 15 Jul 2025

Viewed by 498

Abstract

Despite notable advancements in smart home technologies, residential energy management continues to face critical challenges. These include the complex integration of intermittent renewable energy sources, issues related to data latency, interoperability, and standardization across diverse systems, the inflexibility of centralized control architectures in dynamic environments, and the difficulty of accurately modeling and influencing occupant behavior. To address these challenges, this study proposes an intelligent multi-agent system designed to accurately estimate and control energy consumption in residential buildings, with the overarching objective of optimizing energy usage while maintaining occupant comfort and satisfaction. The methodological approach employed is a hybrid framework, integrating multi-agent system architecture with system dynamics modeling and agent-based modeling. This integration enables decentralized and intelligent control while simultaneously simulating physical processes such as heat exchange, insulation performance, and energy consumption, alongside behavioral interactions and real-time adaptive responses. The system is tested under varying conditions, including changes in building insulation quality and external temperature profiles, to assess its capability for accurate control and estimation of energy use. The proposed tool offers significant added value by supporting real-time responsiveness, behavioral adaptability, and decentralized coordination. It serves as a risk-free simulation platform to test energy-saving strategies, evaluate cost-effective insulation configurations, and fine-tune thermostat settings without incurring additional cost or real-world disruption. The high fidelity and predictive accuracy of the system have important implications for policymakers, building designers, and homeowners, offering a practical foundation for informed decision making and the promotion of sustainable residential energy practices. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Development of Energy and Environment in Buildings)

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20 pages, 3122 KB

Open AccessArticle

Data-Driven MPC with Multi-Layer ReLU Networks for HVAC Optimization Under Iraq’s Time-of-Use Electricity Pricing

by Alaa Shakir, Ghamgeen Izat Rashed, Yigang He and Xiao Wang

Processes 2025, 13(7), 1985; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr13071985 - 23 Jun 2025

Viewed by 614

Abstract

Enhancing the energy management capabilities of modern smart buildings is essential for energy conservation, which is valuable for modern power networks maintaining a tight power balance under high renewable penetration. This study introduces a data-driven control strategy based on the model predictive control (MPC) for HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) systems considering the time-of-use (ToU) electricity rates in Iraq. A multi-layer neural network is first constructed using time-delayed embedding for the modeling of building thermal dynamics, where the rectified linear unit (ReLU) is used as the activation function for the hidden layers. Based on such piecewise affine approximation, an optimization model is developed within the receding horizon control framework, which incorporates the data-driven model and is transformed into a mixed-integer linear programming facilitating efficient problem solving. To validate the efficiency of the proposed approach, a simulation model of the building’s thermal network is constructed using Simscape considering several thermal effects among the building components. Simulation results demonstrate that the proposed approach improves the economic performance of the building while maintaining thermal comfort levels within acceptable range. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Development of Energy and Environment in Buildings)

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19 pages, 3857 KB

Open AccessArticle

Improving Indoor Thermal Comfort and Air-Conditioning Management in Representative Primary Schools in Southern China

by Yicheng Sun, Wataru Ando, Shoichi Kojima and Kazuaki Nakaohkubo

Processes 2025, 13(5), 1538; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr13051538 - 16 May 2025

Viewed by 485

Abstract

This study aims to optimize indoor thermal environment assessment methods for primary school classrooms in regions with hot summers and cold winters, enhancing air-conditioning management efficiency and accuracy. Given the complexity of Predicted Mean Vote (PMV) calculations and its reduced accuracy under high temperature and humidity, this research explores the use of Thermal Sensation Vote (TSV) as a simpler alternative. Field measurements and subjective assessments were conducted to analyze the relationship between TSV and PMV, leading to a regression model linking predicted TSV (TSV_p) with temperature and humidity. Results indicate that temperature and humidity significantly impact TSV, with regression coefficients of 0.499 and 0.055, respectively. Furthermore, when TSV is ≥1, the proportion of PMV of ≥0.5 remains stable, validating TSV_p as a reliable indicator. Based on these findings, energy-efficient air-conditioning management strategies are proposed, recommending a temperature setting of 28 °C for thermal comfort. This study provides insights into climate control strategies in educational buildings, promoting sustainable development. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Development of Energy and Environment in Buildings)

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12 pages, 1504 KB

Open AccessArticle

Controllable Preparation and Electrically Enhanced Particle Filtration Performance of Reduced Graphene Oxide Polyester Fiber Materials in Public Buildings

by Xiaolei Sheng, Tuo Yang, Xin Zhang and Tao Yu

Processes 2025, 13(2), 383; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr13020383 - 30 Jan 2025

Viewed by 857

Abstract

How to effectively improve the filtration characteristics of polyester fiber filtration materials in public buildings is particularly important for ensuring the health of indoor environments. This study uses the impregnation method to prepare composite materials by using the characteristics of graphene and its derivatives and, on this basis, enhances the filtration characteristics of the composite materials by applying an external voltage. The structure and particle filtration performance of the composite materials are tested and analyzed. The results indicate that the filtration efficiency of the prepared composite filter material is significantly improved compared to polyester fiber materials. When the applied voltage is 4 V, the new composite filter material has the highest weight filtration efficiency for particulate matter, with filtration efficiencies of 71.3%, 45.3%, and 35.7% for PM₁₀, PM_2.5, and PM_1.0, respectively. The filtration efficiency is highest when the power on time is 80 s. At this time, the filtration efficiency of the filter material for PM₁₀, PM_2.5, and PM_1.0 is 70.6%, 43.8%, and 35.3%, respectively. The new composite filter material has a significant lifting effect on particles with a diameter of 0–2.5 μm. It provides reference value for research and the application of new filtering materials. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Development of Energy and Environment in Buildings)

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Review

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35 pages, 2895 KB

Open AccessReview

Ventilated Facades for Low-Carbon Buildings: A Review

by Pinar Mert Cuce and Erdem Cuce

Processes 2025, 13(7), 2275; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr13072275 - 17 Jul 2025

Viewed by 1630

Abstract

The construction sector presently consumes about 40% of global energy and generates 36% of CO₂ emissions, making facade retrofits a priority for decarbonising buildings. This review clarifies how ventilated facades (VFs), wall assemblies that interpose a ventilated air cavity between outer cladding and the insulated structure, address that challenge. First, the paper categorises VFs by structural configuration, ventilation strategy and functional control into four principal families: double-skin, rainscreen, hybrid/adaptive and active–passive systems, with further extensions such as BIPV, PCM and green-wall integrations that couple energy generation or storage with envelope performance. Heat-transfer analysis shows that the cavity interrupts conductive paths, promotes buoyancy- or wind-driven convection, and curtails radiative exchange. Key design parameters, including cavity depth, vent-area ratio, airflow velocity and surface emissivity, govern this balance, while hybrid ventilation offers the most excellent peak-load mitigation with modest energy input. A synthesis of simulation and field studies indicates that properly detailed VFs reduce envelope cooling loads by 20–55% across diverse climates and cut winter heating demand by 10–20% when vents are seasonally managed or coupled with heat-recovery devices. These thermal benefits translate into steadier interior surface temperatures, lower radiant asymmetry and fewer drafts, thereby expanding the hours occupants remain within comfort bands without mechanical conditioning. Climate-responsive guidance emerges in tropical and arid regions, favouring highly ventilated, low-absorptance cladding; temperate and continental zones gain from adaptive vents, movable insulation or PCM layers; multi-skin adaptive facades promise balanced year-round savings by re-configuring in real time. Overall, the review demonstrates that VFs constitute a versatile, passive-plus platform for low-carbon buildings, simultaneously enhancing energy efficiency, durability and indoor comfort. Future advances in smart controls, bio-based materials and integrated energy-recovery systems are poised to unlock further performance gains and accelerate the sector’s transition to net-zero. Emerging multifunctional materials such as phase-change composites, nanostructured coatings, and perovskite-integrated systems also show promise in enhancing facade adaptability and energy responsiveness. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Development of Energy and Environment in Buildings)

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