Energy Communities: Innovations in Urban Building Design and Energy Systems
A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Green Building".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 3 January 2027 | Viewed by 616
Special Issue Editors
Interests: indoor air quality; ventilation of buildings; building energy simulation
Interests: analysis and simulation of moisture transport in building envelopes; evaluation of the moisture buffering capacity of interior coatings (Moisture Buffering Value); hygrothermal characterization of building materials; moisture behavior of granular media; energy efficiency certification of buildings
Interests: energy simulation of buildings; numerical methods applied to heat transfer; thermal characterization of building components using PASLINK cell tests; thermal characterization of vegetal facades
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
The transition to sustainable energy systems is a cornerstone of climate action, with urban buildings playing a pivotal role. Energy communities—collective, citizen-driven initiatives for renewable energy generation and distribution—are emerging as transformative models for decarbonizing cities. These communities integrate innovative building design, smart energy systems, and participatory governance to enhance efficiency, equity, and resilience. However, scaling these solutions requires interdisciplinary advances in technology, policy, and social engagement.
This Special Issue seeks to explore cutting-edge research on energy communities, focusing on their potential to reshape urban energy landscapes. Topics of interest include (but are not limited to) the following:
- Technological innovations: Digital twins, AI-driven energy management, and HVAC optimization for community-scale systems.
- Building design: Net-zero energy districts, passive housing, and circular construction materials.
- Policy and governance: Regulatory frameworks, business models, and equitable participation mechanisms.
- Social dimensions: Community engagement, behavioral insights, and energy justice.
- Integration with urban systems: Microgrids, vehicle-to-building (V2B) networks, and hybrid renewable systems.
We welcome original research articles, case studies, and reviews that address these challenges and opportunities. By sharing knowledge and best practices, this Special Issue aims to accelerate the adoption of energy communities as a keystone of sustainable urban development.
We look forward to your contributions.
Dr. Moises Odriozola-Maritorena
Prof. Dr. Iñaki Gómez-Arriaran
Dr. Zaloa Azkorra-Larrinaga
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. Sustainability 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 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
- energy communities
- urban energy systems
- renewable energy integration
- smart buildings
- distributed energy resources (DERs)
- energy efficiency in buildings
- community microgrids
- sustainable urban design
- energy democracy
- building-energy modeling
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