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Renewable Energy Integration and Application in Buildings for Carbon Neutrality 2nd Edition

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 December 2025 | Viewed by 20856

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Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Lin Lu

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Guest Editor

Department of Building Environment and Energy Engineering, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China
Interests: renewable energy technologies and applications in buildings; fundamentals of fluid mechanics and heat/mass transfer to enhance building energy systems; engineered nanomaterial development towards energy smart building envelopes
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Dr. Jianheng Chen

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Guest Editor

School of Energy and Environment, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
Interests: renewable energy technologies; radiative sky cooling; solar energy; thermal comfort; flow assurance; heat transfer
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

In view of the rapid development of renewable energy technologies and the goal of achieving Net Zero Energy Buildings as well as the growing demand for carbon neutrality, it is crucial to provide efficient renewable energy utilization technologies for building energy saving. Accordingly, papers submitted for consideration for publication in this Special Issue should advance and disseminate the body of knowledge related to renewable energy technologies integrated with green buildings to achieve sustainable, high-performance and low-energy building systems. The Special Issue aims to serve researchers, engineers, and other stakeholders to help them keep abreast of the latest development of alternative renewable energy solutions to current building practices. Acceptable topics include original reviews of past practices, advanced and up-to-date information of current interests, or exploration of new concepts pertinent to renewable energy technologies integrated with buildings. Cutting-edge renewable energy technologies in realizing net zero energy and carbon neutrality for buildings are highly encouraged so as to promote information and knowledge exchange on the frontier scientific research, and to contribute to the sustainable development of the building industry. The Special Issue covers all aspects of science and technology concerned with renewable energy development, utilization, storage, and integration with building systems. Articles related to but not limited to the following topics are encouraged to be submitted in this Special Issue:

Renewable energy technologies (solar thermal, solar photovoltaic, wind, geothermal, etc.) and their integration with buildings
Green building materials
Energy demand and management, and smart buildings
Climate responsive architectural design
Energy efficient building envelope and system
Low-energy architecture
Hydrogen and fuel cell technology integrated with buildings
Building energy systems, conservation, and generation
Economics of green building and cost models/methods
Emerging technologies for sustainable facilities and infrastructure
Full-spectrum solar energy utilization in buildings
Thermal and electrical energy storage systems
Radiative sky cooling technologies integrated with buildings
Energy sharing and trading among building sectors

Note that papers should be within the scope of the “Renewable Energy, Sustainable Buildings and Carbon Neutrality” and the submitted papers are encouraged to address the connections between renewable energy applications and sustainable buildings.

Prof. Dr. Lin Lu
Dr. Jianheng Chen
Guest Editors

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

renewable energy
building energy
energy efficiency
energy storage
green buildings
building envelope
energy flexibility and management
sustainable infrastructure
carbon neutrality

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Published Papers (10 papers)

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Research

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26 pages, 5854 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Adaptive Grey-Box Modelling for Energy-Efficient Building Retrofits: Case Studies in Denmark

by Yujie Yang and Muhyiddine Jradi

Sustainability 2025, 17(4), 1702; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17041702 - 18 Feb 2025

Viewed by 612

Abstract

Optimizing energy efficiency in existing buildings can yield substantial savings, though collecting the necessary data for energy modelling often poses challenges. This study developed a flexible, room-level framework for evaluating retrofit strategies using simplified energy models. The approach, based on the RC model, estimated parameters from readily available data such as solar radiation, indoor and outdoor temperatures, and heating system characteristics. The model was validated through case studies of an office and a daycare room in Denmark, guiding energy retrofit decisions. Results showed that adding roof insulation provided greater energy savings compared to wall insulation. A multi-objective optimization was employed to balance energy efficiency and thermal comfort, achieving a 6.58% reduction in energy demand during January while maintaining occupant comfort for 744 h. This framework not only facilitates building–energy retrofitting but also supports the development of digital twins and operational optimization, improving both energy performance and indoor environmental quality. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Renewable Energy Integration and Application in Buildings for Carbon Neutrality 2nd Edition)

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39 pages, 7831 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Integrated Renewable Energy Systems for Buildings: An Assessment of the Environmental and Socio-Economic Sustainability

by Hossam A. Gabbar and A. Ramadan

Sustainability 2025, 17(2), 656; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17020656 - 16 Jan 2025

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1804

Abstract

Developing a green energy strategy for municipalities requires creating a framework to support the local production, storage, and use of renewable energy and green hydrogen. This framework should cover essential components for small-scale applications, including energy sources, infrastructure, potential uses, policy backing, and collaborative partnerships. It is deployed as a small-scale renewable and green hydrogen unit in a municipality or building demands meticulous planning and considering multiple elements. Municipality can promote renewable energy and green hydrogen by adopting policies such as providing financial incentives like property tax reductions, grants, and subsidies for solar, wind, and hydrogen initiatives. They can also streamline approval processes for renewable energy installations, invest in hydrogen refueling stations and community energy projects, and collaborate with provinces and neighboring municipalities to develop hydrogen corridors and large-scale renewable projects. Renewable energy and clean hydrogen have significant potential to enhance sustainability in the transportation, building, and mining sectors by replacing fossil fuels. In Canada, where heating accounts for 80% of building energy use, blending hydrogen with LPG can reduce emissions. This study proposes a comprehensive approach integrating renewable energy and green hydrogen to support small-scale applications. The study examines many scenarios in a building as a case study, focusing on economic and greenhouse gas (GHG) emission impacts. The optimum scenario uses a hybrid renewable energy system to meet two distinct electrical needs, with 53% designated for lighting and 10% for equipment with annual saving CAD$ 87,026.33. The second scenario explores utilizing a hydrogen-LPG blend as fuel for thermal loads, covering 40% and 60% of the total demand, respectively. This approach reduces greenhouse gas emissions from 540 to 324 tCO₂/year, resulting in an annual savings of CAD$ 251,406. This innovative approach demonstrates the transformative potential of renewable energy and green hydrogen in enhancing energy efficiency and sustainability across sectors, including transportation, buildings, and mining. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Renewable Energy Integration and Application in Buildings for Carbon Neutrality 2nd Edition)

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19 pages, 3364 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Research on Increasing the Building’s Energy Efficiency by Using the Ground Beneath It for Thermo-Accumulation

by Tadas Zdankus, Sandeep Bandarwadkar, Juozas Vaiciunas, Gediminas Stelmokaitis and Arnas Vaicaitis

Sustainability 2025, 17(1), 262; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17010262 - 2 Jan 2025

Viewed by 2555

Abstract

A whole series of factors influence the temperature of the soil surface and surface layers. The soil surface is heated by solar radiation during the day. It radiates some of the obtained heat at night. The heat exchange between the soil and the atmosphere depends on the air and soil temperatures and the speed of air movement. Precipitation may also affect surface soil layers, but this was not considered in this study. In the mentioned interaction, a specific temperature field of the surface layers of the soil is established. To increase the building’s energy efficiency, the aim is to optimize the operation of its heating and cooling systems and to reduce heat loss to the environment as much as possible. Heat loss through the floor of the building or the walls of the recessed part into the ground changes the established temperature field of the ground. The heat spreads in the soil and is given to the atmospheric air. During the research, to validate the numerical model, the heat flow density was analysed to determine how it changes while maintaining a constant temperature of the heating surface at a certain depth of the soil. It was found that the new thermodynamic equilibrium, depending on the seasonality, can be reached in a time interval of up to a week. The temperature change in the artificially limited volume of the ground under the building or next to it can be treated as the work of the ground thermo-accumulator: its charge or discharge by heat. This makes it possible to reduce the annual energy costs of the building by more than ten percent. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Renewable Energy Integration and Application in Buildings for Carbon Neutrality 2nd Edition)

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30 pages, 18075 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Workflow for a Building Information Modeling-Based Thermo-Hygrometric Digital Twin: An Experimentation in an Existing Building

by Tullio De Rubeis, Annamaria Ciccozzi, Mattia Ragnoli, Vincenzo Stornelli, Stefano Brusaporci, Alessandra Tata and Dario Ambrosini

Sustainability 2024, 16(23), 10281; https://doi.org/10.3390/su162310281 - 24 Nov 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1376

Abstract

Building Information Modeling (BIM)-based digital twin (DT) could play a fundamental role in overcoming the limitations of traditional monitoring methods by driving the digitalization of the construction sector. While existing studies on the topic have provided valuable insights, significant knowledge gaps remain, which continue to hinder the large-scale adoption of this approach. Moreover, to date, there is no standardized procedure available, able to guide the step-by-step creation of a DT. Another significant challenge concerns the choice of technologies able to integrate perfectly with each other throughout the process. This paper outlines a comprehensive workflow for creating a digital twin (DT) of an existing building and proposes various solutions to improve the integration of different technologies involved. These enhancements aim to address the limitations of current monitoring methods and leverage the advantages of BIM and DT for accessing and managing monitoring data, ultimately facilitating the implementation of energy-efficient interventions. This work examines the concept of “Living Lab” in an office building also used as an academic laboratory. The created DT allowed for real-time remote monitoring of four rooms, each with a different functional and occupational characteristic, useful also for future predictive analyses. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Renewable Energy Integration and Application in Buildings for Carbon Neutrality 2nd Edition)

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20 pages, 2745 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Feasibility Analysis of Indirect Evaporative Cooling System Assisted by Liquid Desiccant for Data Centers in Hot-Humid Regions

by Wenchao Shi, Xiaochen Ma, Yunran Min and Hongxing Yang

Sustainability 2024, 16(5), 2011; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16052011 - 29 Feb 2024

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2019

Abstract

The rapid development of data centers (DCs) has led to a marked increase in energy consumption in recent years, which poses a direct challenge to global efforts aimed at reducing carbon emissions. In regions with hot and humid climates, the energy demand is largely driven by air conditioning systems necessarily to maintain appropriate operational temperatures. This study proposes a novel multi-stage indirect evaporative cooling (IEC) system, incorporating a liquid desiccant in the primary air channel to address the cooling demands of such DCs. Our approach involves a two-stage process where the first stage uses a liquid desiccant-based IEC (LD-IEC) for air dehumidification and the second stage utilizes the treated air from the first stage as the secondary air to enhance the cooling effect. A simulation model of the proposed system is established with validation, and the performance of the multi-stage system was also discussed based on different operation modes. Furthermore, a case study was conducted to investigate the feasibility of using this system in the DC under a typical hot and humid zone. The findings reveal that the first-stage LD-IEC is capable of diminishing the wet-bulb temperature of the ambient air. Furthermore, the case study demonstrates that the proposed system can greatly improve the temperature drop by 72.7% compared to the single IEC, which noticeably reduces the operation time of energy-intensive supplementary cooling equipment from 5092 h to 31 h given the supply air temperature threshold of 25 °C. In summary, the proposed system could substantially decrease reliance on traditional cooling systems, which demonstrates a promising avenue to fully use this passive cooling technology for cooling DCs. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Renewable Energy Integration and Application in Buildings for Carbon Neutrality 2nd Edition)

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21 pages, 5139 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Study of Heat Transfer Characteristics and Economic Analysis of a Closed Deep Coaxial Geothermal Heat Exchanger Retrofitted from an Abandoned Oil Well

by Rui-Jia Liu, Lin-Rui Jia, Wen-Shuo Zhang, Ming-Zhi Yu, Xu-Dong Zhao and Ping Cui

Sustainability 2024, 16(4), 1603; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16041603 - 14 Feb 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1552

Abstract

It is economical to transform abandoned oil/geothermal wells into closed deep geothermal heat exchangers with coaxial tubes. A numerical model of a coaxial geothermal heat exchanger (CGHE) with varying borehole diameters is established according to an abandoned well in Northern China. The finite difference method is adopted to solve the temperature distribution, and the accuracy of the model is validated with experimental data. Based on the existing structure of the abandoned well with different depths, the feasibility of its conversion into a deep CGHE is discussed, and this study uses the orthogonal experimental method to analyze the influence of four main factors and their significance level on the average heat extraction rate, with the heat extraction rate up to 422.18 kW in the optimal combination. This study also integrates with actual project considerations and conducts an economic analysis to determine the most appropriate circulation fluid flow rate. The results highlight the key factors on the heat transfer performance of the CGHE, with the inlet water temperature to the CGHE being the most significant, followed by the configuration of the CGHE retrofitted from abandoned. From the economic perspective, given that the CGHE in this study is retrofitted from the abandoned oil Wells, the drilling cost can be reduced by up to CNY 1800 thousand, and the flow rate design of 35 m³/h is the optimal choice, ensuring a cost-effective system operation while meeting the operational requirements of the deep CGHE. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Renewable Energy Integration and Application in Buildings for Carbon Neutrality 2nd Edition)

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Review

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23 pages, 3285 KiB

Open AccessReview

Overview of Sensing and Data Processing Technologies for Smart Building Services and Applications

by Hamza Elkhoukhi, Abdellatif Elmouatamid, Achraf Haibi, Mohamed Bakhouya and Driss El Ouadghiri

Sustainability 2025, 17(9), 4029; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17094029 - 29 Apr 2025

Viewed by 389

Abstract

Internet of things (IoT) and big data technologies are increasingly gaining significance in the implementation of various services and applications. Consequently, much of the research focused on energy efficiency and building management revolves around integrating IoT and big data technologies for data collection and processing. Occupancy detection, comfort, and energy management are the most important services for optimizing building energy consumption in smart buildings, and environmental data play a key role in improving these services. Furthermore, the integration of advanced and recent techniques, such as IoT, big data, and machine learning, is progressively becoming more vital for both researchers and industries. This paper presents and discusses various emerging technologies that will contribute to designing novel IoT-based architectures to improve smart building services. These technologies offer innovative solutions to address the challenges of interoperability, scalability, and real-time data processing within intelligent environments, paving the way for more efficient, adaptive, and user-centric smart building systems. The main aim of this research is to help researchers define an optimal architecture that presents all layers, from sensing to big data stream processing. We established comparative criteria between the most popular data processing techniques to select the appropriate framework for developing intelligent platforms for managing building services, such as occupancy detection systems and occupants’ comfort management, and further, to enhance the deployment of digital twins for critical environment monitoring and anomaly detection. The proposed architecture uses Apache Kafka, Apache Storm, and Apache SAMOA as its core components, creating a comprehensive platform for efficient data collection, monitoring, and processing with high performance in terms of fault tolerance and low latency. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Renewable Energy Integration and Application in Buildings for Carbon Neutrality 2nd Edition)

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22 pages, 9847 KiB

Open AccessReview

A Review of Carbon Emission Reduction During the Operation Stage of Substations

by Weixian Che, Yanfeng Wang, Wenwei Zhu, Lexin Hong, Can Fang, Huijun Wu and Jia Liu

Sustainability 2024, 16(22), 10017; https://doi.org/10.3390/su162210017 - 16 Nov 2024

Viewed by 1488

Abstract

As an important part of the power industry, carbon reduction technology in substations plays a key role in supporting the implementation of national policy of carbon peak and reduction. In recent years, a series of carbon emission reduction measures have been developed in the operation phase of substations and promoted beneficial carbon emission reduction. This article summarizes the progress of related technologies and applications from the aspects of substation composition, carbon emission sources, carbon emission reduction technologies, and their effects. Firstly, the composition of carbon emissions from substations during operation is described. Secondly, various measures for carbon emission reduction are reviewed, including the selection of substation equipment types, the intelligent management of substation equipment, and the use of renewable energy. Finally, future technological directions for carbon reduction in substations are discussed, providing technical references and guidance for the sustainable construction and development of low-carbon substations. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Renewable Energy Integration and Application in Buildings for Carbon Neutrality 2nd Edition)

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27 pages, 18654 KiB

Open AccessReview

Towards Passive Building Thermal Regulation: A State-of-the-Art Review on Recent Progress of PCM-Integrated Building Envelopes

by Kai Jiao, Lin Lu, Liang Zhao and Gang Wang

Sustainability 2024, 16(15), 6482; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16156482 - 29 Jul 2024

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 4362

Abstract

The building envelope serves as a barrier against climatic conditions and as insulation to prevent energy waste within buildings. As global energy shortages become more pressing, the requirements for building envelopes are becoming increasingly stringent. Among the available technologies, phase change materials (PCMs) stand out for their high latent thermal energy storage and temperature stabilization capabilities. This paper reviews the recent advancements in PCM technology for building envelopes, starting with an overview of organic, inorganic, and eutectic PCMs, along with their respective advantages and disadvantages. The paper explores various incorporation methods such as shape stabilization, macroencapsulation, micro/nanoencapsulation, and solid–solid transition techniques. The integration of PCMs enhances thermal inertia, reduces thermal fluctuations, and delays heat peaks, presenting several multifunctional benefits. However, challenges such as fire hazards, potential toxicity, pollution, reduced mechanical performance, and higher initial costs persist. In light of these challenges, criteria for PCM integration in building applications are introduced. Additionally, the paper reviews recent hybrid technologies that combine PCMs with other novel technologies for building envelopes, including radiant temperature regulation systems, thermochromic windows, passive radiative cooling coatings, and others. It is shown that these PCM-integrated hybrid technologies significantly improve energy savings and indoor comfort. PCMs offer substantial potential for modern green building strategies and have further applications in other building contexts. Finally, the paper provides future prospects for studies in this field, aiming towards a green and energy-saving future. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Renewable Energy Integration and Application in Buildings for Carbon Neutrality 2nd Edition)

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27 pages, 4771 KiB

Open AccessReview

Advancing Sustainable Development: Broad Applications of Passive Radiative Cooling

by Lin Liang, Shengxi Bai, Kaixin Lin, Chui Ting Kwok, Siru Chen, Yihao Zhu and Chi Yan Tso

Sustainability 2024, 16(6), 2346; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16062346 - 12 Mar 2024

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 3515

Abstract

With the increasing demand for energy worldwide, researchers from different fields have been striving to improve the sustainability and proper utilization of energy resources. Passive radiative cooling, as a natural energy transport method, can achieve cooling without additional external energy input. This review provides a comprehensive examination of passive radiative cooling, including its fundamental theories and latest development. A particular emphasis is placed on the diverse range of fields where passive radiative cooling has been applied, notably including but not limited to construction and architecture. The current state of applications, potential challenges that may arise with wider adaption and promising research directions for each field are thoroughly discussed. This review emphasizes the extensive potential and practical viability of passive radiative cooling in diverse applications and identifies pressing challenges and future research directions aimed at scaling up real-world implementation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Renewable Energy Integration and Application in Buildings for Carbon Neutrality 2nd Edition)

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