Renewable Energy Technologies and Sustainability of Energy Efficient Buildings

Dear Colleagues,

Renewable energy is not only a way to decarbonize industry and transportation, but also among the largest common energy consumers and greenhouse gas (GHG) emitters in the European Union and worldwide—the building and real estate sectors, cities (smart cities), towns, and rural areas.

As renewable energy sources (RESs) are those that can be replenished naturally, their use for the energy supply of buildings on-site and from the grid is the best possible avenue towards more sustainable and energy efficient building management throughout their exploitation cycle. For example, solar energy can be captured by photovoltaic panels or solar thermal collectors and used to generate electricity, heat water, or serve as a support element for a building’s main heating systems. Wind energy can be harnessed by different types of turbines, which can be located outside the building or integrated into its design and engineering systems. Biomass energy can be burned to produce heat and/or electricity. Also, green gases like biomethane and hydrogen can be successfully introduced to the building sector—both for on-site heat energy generation, cogeneration, or trigeneration options  and as energy resources delivered by centralized networks and/or distribution points.

RESs in buildings can offer a variety of benefits for the environment and for the occupants alike. For instance, they emit less or no GHGs compared to fossil fuels, which helps to mitigate climate change and minimize air pollution. Additionally, RESs can reduce dependence on imported energy supplies and increase the resilience and security of local energy consumers. At the same time, RESs can lower the operational and maintenance costs of buildings, especially in the long run, due to lower or no fuel costs and thanks to tax incentives or subsidies. Using RESs can improve the indoor environmental quality and thermal comfort of buildings by providing more natural and consistent lighting, heating, and cooling, along with reductions in noise and dust. To achieve these goals, further digitalization and automation of building management and engineering systems is also a clear necessity. Incorporating passive design features such as insulation, shading, windows, skylights, or atriums can regulate the temperature and airflow inside buildings and reduce energy demand, but coupled with digitalization and automation, these measures can provide even more long-lasting and tangible results.

RESs in buildings can result in numerous benefits, but there are also some challenges associated with their implementation. For instance, this often requires high upfront investments and the installation of complex equipment as well as its maintenance. Additionally, the reliability and stability of the energy supply can be affected by the availability and intensity of natural resources, such as sunlight and wind, which can vary seasonally or daily. RESs need to be integrated and compatible with the existing building structure, design, and function, as well as with the local grid and regulations, which can present technical, functional, or even legal problems.

These problems, of course, can be addressed in a variety of ways; for instance, by the establishment and expansion of renewable energy communities (RECs) and the introduction of green architecture principles. RECs bring together residents and organizations to generate, share, and consume renewable energy while enjoying lower energy costs. Green architecture principles, on the other hand, are a set of guidelines and best practices aimed at designing buildings that are environmentally friendly, energy efficient, and socially responsible. By applying these principles, there is a possibility to overcome some of the problems of using RESs in buildings and to enhance their overall performance.

Therefore, this Special Issue focuses on the usage of RESs in buildings; on broad spectrum enhancement of their energy performance; on supporting synergies between green engineering systems, digitalization, and the sustainability of building management throughout the exploitation cycle; and on the role of RESs in emerging smart cities. Original research articles based on theoretical, experimental, and/or empirical approaches, as well as reviews, are welcome.

In this Special Issue, original research articles and reviews are welcome and research areas may include, but are not limited to:

1. Green energy consumption and generation in buildings;
2. The energy performance of buildings and its enhancement;
3. The standardization of the energy efficiency and sustainability of buildings;
4. Energy communities and sustainable energy supply for rural and urban areas;
5. Sustainable building management;
6. The digitalization and automation of building energy management;
7. The sustainability of the built environment in smart cities;
8. Green gases in the decarbonization of urban areas;
9. The engineering implementation of green architecture principles.

We look forward to receiving your contributions. 

Prof. Dr. Ineta Geipele
Dr. Antra Kundzina
Guest Editors

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• green energy
• sustainable built environment
• energy performance of buildings
• sustainable building management
• digitalization and automation of building management
• smart cities
• green gases in urban areas
• renewable energy communities
• green architecture principles