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Advancing Sustainable Building Practices: Integrating Green Materials, Healthy Structures, and AI-Driven Solutions

A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Green Building".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 1 March 2026 | Viewed by 5551

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Ali Bahadori-Jahromi

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Computing and Engineering, University of West London, St Mary Road, Ealing, London W5 5RF, UK
Interests: sustainable engineering; building simulation; building design; building engineering; building envelope; carbon dioxide (CO2)
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The transition towards sustainable building practices is imperative for addressing modern construction’s environmental, social, and economic challenges. This Special Issue, “Advancing Sustainable Building Practices: Integrating Green Materials, Healthy Structures, and AI-Driven Solutions”, focuses on innovative approaches to creating buildings that are not only environmentally friendly but also promote the well-being and comfort of their occupants. The scope encompasses a broad range of topics, including using green materials, designing healthy structures, and the creation of comfortable indoor environments. A unique aspect of this issue is the exploration of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) applications in optimizing sustainable building practices. This Special Issue aims to provide a comprehensive collection of cutting-edge research that advances our understanding and implementation of sustainable building strategies.

By integrating AI and ML, this issue addresses the need for smarter, more efficient building systems that can adapt to various environmental and human factors. This Special Issue will serve as a valuable supplement to existing literature by highlighting the synergistic potential of AI in enhancing sustainable building technologies. It aims to bridge the gap between theoretical research and practical applications, offering insights that can lead to more sustainable, healthy, and comfortable living spaces.

In this Special Issue, original research articles and reviews are welcome. Areas of research can include (but are not limited to):

  • Sustainable building;
  • Green material;
  • Healthy structure;
  • Comfort environment;
  • Artificial intelligence;
  • Machine learning;
  • Environmental impact;
  • Smart buildings;
  • Energy efficiency;
  • Indoor air quality.

Prof. Dr. Ali Bahadori-Jahromi
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. 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

  • sustainable building
  • green material
  • healthy structure
  • comfort environment
  • artificial intelligence
  • machine learning
  • environmental impact
  • smart buildings
  • energy efficiency
  • indoor air quality

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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

18 pages, 2363 KiB  
Article
Harnessing Nature-Based Solutions for a Green and Sustainable Built Environment in South Africa
by John Aliu and Douglas Aghimien
Sustainability 2025, 17(3), 1131; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17031131 - 30 Jan 2025
Viewed by 1596
Abstract
The increasing pressure on urban systems and buildings in South Africa caused by rapid urbanization and climate change necessitates innovative approaches, including Nature-based Solutions (NbSs), to address environmental and societal challenges. As such, this study aimed to determine the dynamic role of NbSs [...] Read more.
The increasing pressure on urban systems and buildings in South Africa caused by rapid urbanization and climate change necessitates innovative approaches, including Nature-based Solutions (NbSs), to address environmental and societal challenges. As such, this study aimed to determine the dynamic role of NbSs in shaping the sustainability of South Africa’s built environment. Using a quantitative approach, the data were collected via a questionnaire survey, which targeted built environment professionals. Data analysis involved reliability testing, confirmatory factor analysis, and Spearman rank order correlation. The survey showed that green roofs, rainwater harvesting, cool roofing and pavements, as well as living walls, have received above-average attention in the country, while agricultural byproducts from concrete construction, bioswales, rain gardens, and algae-based materials are yet to be explored in the delivery of green buildings and sustainable urban areas. Overall, deploying NbSs promises positive environmental, societal, and economic impacts. The findings emphasize the need for stronger policies and regulations that promote the adoption of underutilized NbSs within the South African built environment. Theoretically, this study contributes to the existing discourse on sustainable development in South Africa. As the nation grapples with diverse environmental and social issues, this study becomes timely, as it provides crucial insights into how NbSs can address some of these challenges. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advancing Sustainable Building Practices: Integrating Green Materials, Healthy Structures, and AI-Driven Solutions)
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19 pages, 34591 KiB  
Article
A Proposal for the Improvement of Daylight Integration and Distribution in the Educational Interior Space Through a (Pro-Sun) Ceiling Design with Curved Surfaces
by Esin Fakıbaba Dedeoğlu and Meryem Yalçın
Sustainability 2025, 17(3), 1096; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17031096 - 29 Jan 2025
Viewed by 1105
Abstract
The use of daylight as the primary lighting source in buildings is crucial for achieving energy savings. Significantly reducing the dependence on artificial lighting sources relies on more efficient utilization of available daylight and enhancement of its quantity and distribution within interior spaces. [...] Read more.
The use of daylight as the primary lighting source in buildings is crucial for achieving energy savings. Significantly reducing the dependence on artificial lighting sources relies on more efficient utilization of available daylight and enhancement of its quantity and distribution within interior spaces. The appropriate use of daylight not only enhances energy efficiency in indoor spaces but also positively impacts users’ health and performance. A growing body of research has focused on methods for maximizing the use of daylight in interior environments. This study proposes a ceiling design aimed at utilizing daylight more efficiently in interior spaces. The quantity of daylight in an educational space was calculated using the VELUX Daylight Visualizer program by comparing the results of existing, diagonal, and curved ceiling designs. Light levels were measured before and after the addition of Pro-Sun to assess daylight integration and distribution in the studios’ interior spaces. The design studio was analyzed based on orientation (north-south), school semester, active hours, and ceiling type. As a result of the comparison of ceiling types, the Pro-Sun ceiling system with curved reflectors had the most daylight integration capacity and distribution in the deeper the studio’s interior space. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advancing Sustainable Building Practices: Integrating Green Materials, Healthy Structures, and AI-Driven Solutions)
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26 pages, 5703 KiB  
Article
Energy Savings in University Buildings: The Potential Role of Smart Monitoring and IoT Technologies
by Alessandro Franco, Emanuele Crisostomi, Francesco Leccese, Antonio Mugnani and Stefano Suin
Sustainability 2025, 17(1), 111; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17010111 - 27 Dec 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2249
Abstract
Environmental monitoring systems integrated with IoT networks have rapidly evolved, enabling the collection of vast amounts of data accessible to facility managers and authorized users via smartphone apps. This paper presents a system developed to monitor environmental parameters across multiple buildings at the [...] Read more.
Environmental monitoring systems integrated with IoT networks have rapidly evolved, enabling the collection of vast amounts of data accessible to facility managers and authorized users via smartphone apps. This paper presents a system developed to monitor environmental parameters across multiple buildings at the University of Pisa, with a focus on its potential for improving energy efficiency. Efficient energy management has become increasingly important, especially following the COVID-19 pandemic, which introduced legal requirements for mechanical ventilation. These measures have significantly increased energy consumption during both winter and summer seasons. Our system, built using low-cost components and a secure IoT network, demonstrates how CO2 monitoring and smart controls can reduce energy waste in buildings. In a case study conducted on selected buildings, the system achieved up to 34% energy savings. The paper highlights both the benefits and the limitations of current technology in this context, emphasizing the role of IoT in enhancing sustainability while ensuring safety and security within academic institutions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advancing Sustainable Building Practices: Integrating Green Materials, Healthy Structures, and AI-Driven Solutions)
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