Net-Zero Built Environments: Decarbonization via Digital Tools, Design & Landscape Sustainability
A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Green Building".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 August 2026 | Viewed by 7
Special Issue Editors
Interests: carbon neutrality; natural-based solutions; circular economy; carbon footprint; digital tools
Interests: AI- and machine-learning-assisted design and planning; integrated green living technologies; digital image correlation in structural monitoring; structural control and seismic mitigation; sustainable design for green buildings and factories
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
This Special Issue aims to explore how green building strategies are evolving through the integration of digital tools, sustainable technologies, and innovative planning techniques to meet global net-zero and decarbonization goals. As climate-responsive design becomes essential, this Special Issue emphasizes interdisciplinary solutions that combine architectural design, smart energy systems, and low-carbon material innovations.
Specifically, this Special Issue welcomes research that investigates the following topics:
- Digital design and simulation tools (e.g., BIM, AI-based modeling, digital twins) for enhancing sustainability and energy efficiency;
- Net-zero infrastructure systems, including renewable integration, passive architecture, and resilient design under changing climate conditions;
- Landscape and ecological design that enhances carbon sequestration, biodiversity, and thermal comfort in urban environments;
- The integration of carbon accounting frameworks (e.g., ISO 14067, ISO 14064-1/2) with green building assessments;
- Smart control systems, sensors, and data platforms for dynamic building operations;
- The co-development of hardware (e.g., solar façades, climate-adaptive envelopes) and software (e.g., building energy dashboards, LCA modules) to achieve verifiable low-carbon outcomes.
This Special Issue seeks to complement existing literature by bridging the gap between theoretical frameworks, engineering solutions, and practical applications across scales—from building components to district-level planning. Case studies, technical frameworks, policy analysis, and interdisciplinary experiments are all encouraged. Through this Special Issue, we hope to foster global collaboration and accelerate the transition to climate-smart architecture and circular building practices.
Prof. Dr. Yao-Ming Hong
Prof. Dr. Wenpei Sung
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
- green building
- digital design tools
- net-zero architecture
- building information modeling (BIM)
- low-carbon materials
- landscape-based carbon sequestration
- ISO 14064 and 14067 applications
- smart building systems
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