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Advances in Carbon Neutrality and Renewable Energy Integration in Architecture
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Advances in Carbon Neutrality and Renewable Energy Integration in Architecture

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 4 November 2025 | Viewed by 7749

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Abel Tablada

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Faculty of Architecture, Technological University of Havana José Antonio Echeverría, Marianao, La Habana 19390, Cuba
Interests: sustainable architecture; carbon-neutral architecture; renewable energy; photovoltaics; BIPV; urban farming; building performance simulation; bioclimatic architecture; passive design strategies
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Vesna Kosorić

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
1. Balkan Energy AG, 4656 Starrkirch-Wil, Switzerland
2. Zurich Soft Robotics GmbH, 8005 Zurich, Switzerland
Interests: sustainable architecture; sustainable design; integrated sustainable design processes and concepts; multi-objective design optimization; multi-criteria decision making methods, integration of solar systems into built environment; solar thermal systems; photovoltaics; BIPV; sustainable renovation of existing buildings; urban farming systems; carbon-neutral city; social sustainability; environmental psychology; user-oriented design
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue aims to present the most recent advances in and current discussions on carbon neutrality in architecture as well as the integration of renewable energy technologies in buildings. Considering the high contribution of building industry to global emissions, architects, engineers, developers and all related stakeholders must adopt innovative design and implementation methods that combine building affordability with high performance and replicability. Therefore, the main purpose of this Special Issue is to provide references and tools to help disseminate carbon-neutral strategies and applications in the built environment. The topics include passive design strategies to maximize occupants’ comfort in buildings with the lowest energy demand; the innovative use of low-carbon-embodied materials; methods to guide and assess carbon neutrality in building design and management; novel technologies for the integration of photovoltaic cells and other renewable energy sources into buildings; profitability and social acceptance studies of carbon-neutral buildings; the influence of green rating systems on promoting zero-energy and carbon-neutral buildings, among others. Papers dealing with the building scale are preferred, but those within the scope of the interphase between the building scale and the urban block and neighborhood scales are also encouraged.

This Special Issue (SI) calls for papers that reflect upon the advances in the integration of carbon-neutral strategies and renewable energy in architecture: from building conceptualization and design to building construction and operation.

With more than half of the world population living in cities and the building sector being responsible for more than 40% of greenhouse gas emissions worldwide, efforts made by architects, engineers, developers and policy makers to reduce the carbon footprint in the built environment are not only welcome but also crucial to achieve global decarbonization goals and sustainability.

The literature on how to achieve carbon-neutral architecture and the assessment of built examples are plenty but not sufficiently convincing to accelerate the implementation of more ambitious programs on zero-energy/carbon-neutral buildings and urban developments. The economic factor is one of the obstacles to such goals, but more important is the insufficient dissemination of knowledge and know-how in architectural schools and industry and among policy makers. Therefore, this Special Issue also aims to provide updated information and tools to achieve the optimal combinations of passive strategies and active system implementations that can drastically reduce the energy demand of buildings, and therefore, by reducing the costs of clean energy systems’ integration into buildings, they can enhance building affordability and replicability.

Important aspects to be considered in the design process itself and the tools facilitating the achievement of carbon-neutral architecture, taking into account the contribution of every step of the building life cycle towards GHG emissions, are social and economic aspects. The quality of design methods adapted in all scales of intervention and budgets, the prioritization of passive design strategies over electro/mechanical systems and the efficiency of communication platforms among all stakeholders crucially determine whether the final design achieves sustainability goals such as net-zero energy or a carbon-neutral building.

We invite abstracts reflecting on these issues and on the topics listed below within the scope of the building scale and its interphase with the urban block and neighborhood scales. Other topics contributing to the state of the art in the main research area of Carbon Neutrality and Renewable Energy Integration in Architecture to achieve sustainability are also welcome.

Main themes of the Special Issue:

  1. Carbon-neutral building design strategies (passive and active);
  2. Design methods for net-zero energy buildings/carbon-neutral buildings;
  3. BIM, LCA and digital tools for the design and evaluation of carbon-neutral buildings;
  4. Carbon neutrality and renewable energy in building performance rating certifications/labels/standards;
  5. Evaluation/critical review of carbon-neutral buildings;
  6. The role of industry and real estate agencies in promoting/discouraging carbon neutrality in the building sector;
  7. Carbon neutrality in university programs and architecture schools’ curricula;
  8. Integration of renewable energy technologies in building design;
  9. Advances in developing envelope materials and technologies to achieve carbon neutrality;
  10. Influence of social sustainability to achieve carbon neutrality;
  11. Economic affordability and carbon-neutral buildings;
  12. Building design and climate change challenges.

Dr. Abel Tablada
Dr. Vesna Kosorić
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

  • carbon-neutral buildings
  • net-zero energy buildings
  • BIPV
  • renewable energy
  • sustainable architecture
  • building design
  • architectural education
  • BIM
  • building performance simulation
  • passive design strategies
  • LCA
  • green building rating tools
  • building standards

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  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.

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

Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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14 pages, 1306 KiB  
Article
Life Cycle Cost Optimization of Battery Energy Storage Systems for BIPV-Supported Smart Buildings: A Techno-Economic Analysis
by Hashem Amini Toosi
Sustainability 2025, 17(13), 5820; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17135820 - 24 Jun 2025
Viewed by 355
Abstract
Building-integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) systems coupled with energy storage systems offer promising solutions to reduce the dependency of buildings on non-renewable energy sources and provide the building sector with environmental benefits by reducing the buildings’ environmental footprint. Hence, the economic viability of such energy [...] Read more.
Building-integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) systems coupled with energy storage systems offer promising solutions to reduce the dependency of buildings on non-renewable energy sources and provide the building sector with environmental benefits by reducing the buildings’ environmental footprint. Hence, the economic viability of such energy systems must be further assessed, particularly regarding the market price and required initial investments. This paper aims to evaluate the net present cost (NPC) and saving-to-investment ratio (SIR) of the electrical storage system coupled with BIPV in smart residential buildings with a focus on optimum sizing of the battery systems under varying market price scenarios. Therefore, a parametric energy model of a residential building, a life cycle cost analysis approach, and a Monte Carlo analysis are carried out to elaborate the dynamism between the storage size, market price, and net present cost of the system over its life cycle. The results provide a decision-support tool to find the cost-optimum size of the battery systems and to realize the interplay between the battery system size, the market price, and the economic feasibility of the electrical storage system coupled with residential BIPV. In more detail, the results reveal that the economic viability thresholds of the battery systems’ market price are in the range of 250–300 €/kWh depending on the chosen life cycle cost indicators, while the cost-optimum size of the battery systems varies noticeably according to the market price of battery systems. Furthermore, the paper provides insight to designers, policymakers, manufacturers, and the market for developing scenarios to accelerate the implementation of energy storage systems in the building sector. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Carbon Neutrality and Renewable Energy Integration in Architecture)
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39 pages, 7824 KiB  
Article
The Building Energy Performance Gap in Multifamily Buildings: A Detailed Case Study Analysis of the Energy Demand and Collective Heating System
by Stijn Van de Putte, Marijke Steeman and Arnold Janssens
Sustainability 2025, 17(1), 252; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17010252 - 1 Jan 2025
Viewed by 1513
Abstract
The building energy performance gap, resulting from a discrepancy between the actual energy use and theoretical calculations, remains a persistent issue in building design. This study examines the energy performance of three multifamily buildings with a collective heating system powered by gas boilers [...] Read more.
The building energy performance gap, resulting from a discrepancy between the actual energy use and theoretical calculations, remains a persistent issue in building design. This study examines the energy performance of three multifamily buildings with a collective heating system powered by gas boilers and solar collectors: two that underwent deep renovation and one newly built. An extensive on-site monitoring system provides detailed data on both the heating demand and the final energy use. To ensure comparability, the total energy use of each unit is normalised using the energy signature method. The findings show the large spread of actual energy demands due to a wide variation in user profiles. The majority of dwellings have an actual energy use that is significantly higher than calculated, which is largely attributable to space heating. The gap is further exacerbated by substantial heat losses within the building’s heating system and by limited gains from the solar collectors, indicating discrepancies between design models and operational realities. To bridge this gap, there is a need for rigorous commissioning processes, at least during the initial operation phase start-up and ideally continuously. This can ensure more effective utilisation of renewable energy sources and reduce energy inefficiencies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Carbon Neutrality and Renewable Energy Integration in Architecture)
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19 pages, 5810 KiB  
Article
Predictive Modeling and Validation of Carbon Emissions from China’s Coastal Construction Industry: A BO-XGBoost Ensemble Approach
by Yunfei Hou and Shouwei Liu
Sustainability 2024, 16(10), 4215; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16104215 - 17 May 2024
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2301
Abstract
The extensive carbon emissions produced throughout the life cycle of buildings have significant impacts on environmental sustainability. Addressing the Carbon Emissions from China’s Construction Industry (CECI), this study uses panel data from seven coastal areas (2005–2020) and the Bayesian Optimization Extreme Gradient Boosting [...] Read more.
The extensive carbon emissions produced throughout the life cycle of buildings have significant impacts on environmental sustainability. Addressing the Carbon Emissions from China’s Construction Industry (CECI), this study uses panel data from seven coastal areas (2005–2020) and the Bayesian Optimization Extreme Gradient Boosting (BO-XGBoost) model to accurately predict carbon emissions. Initially, the carbon emission coefficient method is utilized to calculate the CECI. Subsequently, adopting the concept of a fixed-effects model to transform provincial differences into influencing factors, we employ a method combining Spearman rank correlation coefficients to filter out these influencing factors. Finally, the performance of the prediction model is validated using the Root Mean Square Error (RMSE), Mean Absolute Error (MAE), R-squared (R2) and Mean Absolute Percentage Error (MAPE). The results indicate that the total CECI for the seven provinces and cities increased from 3.1 billion tons in 2005 to 17.2 billion tons in 2020, with Shandong Province having the highest CECI and Hainan Province having the lowest. The total population, Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and floor space of the buildings completed passed the significance test, among a total of eight factors. These factors can be considered explanatory variables for the CECI prediction model. The BO-XGBoost algorithm demonstrates outstanding predictive performance, achieving an R2 of 0.91. The proposed model enables potential decisions to quantitatively target the prominent factors contributing to the CECI. Its application can guide policymakers and decision makers toward implementing effective strategies for reducing carbon emissions, thereby fostering sustainable development in the construction industry. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Carbon Neutrality and Renewable Energy Integration in Architecture)
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Review

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46 pages, 25878 KiB  
Review
A Review of Research Progress in Vertical Farming on Façades: Design, Technology, and Benefits
by Xuepeng Shi, Chengfei Shi, Abel Tablada, Xiaoyu Guan, Mingfeng Cui, Yangxiao Rong, Qiqi Zhang and Xudong Xie
Sustainability 2025, 17(3), 921; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17030921 - 23 Jan 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2822
Abstract
The surging global population and urbanization trends present new challenges to food production systems and energy, especially in resource-limited urban environments. Vertical farming on façades (VFOF) is an innovative strategy to address this challenge by growing crops on building skins, efficiently using urban [...] Read more.
The surging global population and urbanization trends present new challenges to food production systems and energy, especially in resource-limited urban environments. Vertical farming on façades (VFOF) is an innovative strategy to address this challenge by growing crops on building skins, efficiently using urban space, increasing food self-sufficiency, and reducing the environmental impact of carbon emissions. This article is a comprehensive review of VFOF and closely related topics based on 166 journal articles. It covers the latest research advances in design, technology, social impact, and environmental benefits. In addition to enhancing the autonomy of urban food supply and improving residents’ quality of life, VFOF also has the potential to optimize the thermal performance of buildings and promote energy conservation by having some of the qualities of vertical greening systems (VGS). The planting system design and technical support factors for different façade locations are explained in detail. The symbiotic relationship between VFOF and architecture is examined to enhance sustainability. The popularity of VFOF is increasing in terms of social acceptance, and the government, together with the private sector and communities, play a vital role in promoting its development. In addition, this review also collates the cases of VFOF implementation in recent years. Research shows that the implementation of VFOF has many advantages, especially when considering future urban challenges under climate change scenarios and the need to provide solutions to achieve carbon neutral buildings and cities. Still, high initial investment, operating costs, technical complexity, security issue, policy and regulatory constraints, and public acceptance are all challenges to overcome. Further research should be carried out in the above fields. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Carbon Neutrality and Renewable Energy Integration in Architecture)
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