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

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 1 September 2026 | Viewed by 16066

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Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Ali Bahadori-Jahromi

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Guest Editor

School of Computing and Engineering, University of West London, London W5 5RF, UK
Interests: building energy & environmental performance; embodied carbon & life cycle assessment (LCA); climate change adaptation in buildings; data-driven & AI-enhanced building modelling; indoor environmental quality
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 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

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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Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

30 pages, 4381 KB

Open AccessArticle

Decarbonizing Residential Heating in Southeast Romania by Using Hybrid Solar–Ground Energy

by Gelu Coman, Cristian Iosifescu, Costel Ungureanu and Ion V. Ion

Sustainability 2026, 18(7), 3557; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18073557 - 4 Apr 2026

Viewed by 709

Abstract

This study analyzes the feasibility of increasing the energy and economic efficiency of a residential heating and domestic hot water (DHW) preparation system with a solar-assisted air-to-water heat pump (AWHP), implemented in southeast Romania. The following options are evaluated from the sustainability point of view (energy, economic and CO₂ emissions): renovation of the building and modernization of the system by integrating an electric accumulator, increasing the capacity of photovoltaic panels (PV) and solar thermal collectors (STCs), and the option of replacing the AWHP with a ground-source heat pump (GSHP) with a vertical loop (GSHP-VL) and a GSHP with a horizontal loop (GSHP-HL). The energy performance of heating systems was simulated using GeoT*SOL software. The results show that by renovating a home, the energy requirement for heating decreased by about 58%; therefore, following the current financial rules applied to prosumers, the GSHP-VL system has the best energy performance (electricity consumption and solar coverage rate of this consumption), economic performance (investment recovery period and annual operating cost) and environmental performance (lowest CO₂ emissions) and that through a government program that promotes energy efficiency and the use of renewable energy sources in homes, capital costs can be reduced by (43–57)% in the case of systems with HP, PV and electric storage. This study shows that a 5 kW PV system combined with 5 kWh battery cannot cover the full heat demand of a medium-to-large house during the winter, and for full energy independence, a larger PV array paired with a higher-capacity battery is necessary. Generous government subsidies amounting to 50% can reduce the payback period for such investments from (11.26–14.68) years to (5.86–7.26) years. 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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50 pages, 13200 KB

Open AccessArticle

Sand–Steel Interface Performance Using Fibre Reinforcement: Experimental and Physics-Guided Artificial Intelligence Prediction

by Rayed Almasoudi, Abolfazl Baghbani and Hossam Abuel-Naga

Sustainability 2026, 18(5), 2368; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18052368 - 28 Feb 2026

Viewed by 412

Abstract

Soil–steel interface shear governs load transfer and long-term serviceability in piles, retaining systems, and buried infrastructure; yet the large-displacement interface mechanics of fibre-reinforced sands remain poorly resolved, limiting sustainable design. This study couples large-displacement ring-shear testing with physics-guided hybrid AI to quantify and predict the peak and residual resistance of sand–polypropylene fibre mixtures sliding on smooth and rough steel. Two quartz sands with contrasting particle morphology were tested under 25–200 kPa normal stress and 0–1.0% fibre content, producing a design-oriented database that captures post-peak evolution and residual states. The experiments reveal a strongly nonlinear reinforcement law: an optimum fibre range enhances dilation, stabilises the shear band, suppresses post-peak softening, and increases residual strength, whereas excessive fibres disrupt the granular skeleton and reduce mobilisation efficiency. Roughness and confinement act as amplifiers, intensifying fibre-driven dilation and asperity interlock. To translate mechanisms into prediction, three strategies were benchmarked: a deep neural network (DNN), the Physics-Guided Neural Additive Model (PG-NAM++), and the physics-anchored Residual-DNN that learns only the correction to a mechanical baseline. Residual-DNN achieved the tightest agreement and the highest physical consistency for both peak and residual strength, enabling robust parameter selection with reduced uncertainty and overdesign. The combined experimental–AI framework advances the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by supporting SDG 9 through resilient, innovation-led infrastructure design and contributing to SDG 12 by enabling optimised (rather than maximal) use and reuse of reinforcement materials within circular ground-improvement practice. 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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18 pages, 2363 KB

Open AccessArticle

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

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 3628

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 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 KB

Open AccessArticle

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

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2251

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. 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 KB

Open AccessArticle

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 10 | Viewed by 8055

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 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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