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Innovative Green Building Materials: Trends Revolutionizing the Construction Industry

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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: 23 October 2026 | Viewed by 2863

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Anna Szymczak-Graczyk

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Guest Editor

Department of Construction and Geoengineering, Faculty of Environmental and Mechanical Engineering, Poznan University of Life Sciences, Poznan, Poland
Interests: ecomaterials; sustainable construction; building loads; structures; rectangular tanks; finite difference method
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Barbara Ksit

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

Institute of Building Engineering, Faculty of Civil and Transport Engineering, Poznan University of Technology, Poznan, Poland
Interests: sustainable construction; building physics; masonry; timber structures

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue of Sustainability, entitled “Innovative Green Building Materials: Trends Revolutionizing the Construction Industry”, is devoted to modern and innovative building materials. Ecomaterials represent an element of the production of building materials and are essential and necessary for sustainable construction. This publication will enable scientists and engineers to exchange the advances in theoretical, computational, design, and technological aspects related to the production of ecomaterials and their practical use.

The main areas of interest in this Special Issue include, but are not limited to, new construction ecomaterials, laboratory testing methods for construction materials, eco-friendly concrete additives and admixtures, the recycling of construction materials, passive houses, and numerical and analytical computational techniques in zero-energy structures.

Sustainability readers and authors are encouraged to submit recent research papers in these areas, with an emphasis on experimental validation and empirical proof.

Dr. Anna Szymczak-Graczyk
Dr. Barbara Ksit
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 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

ecomaterials
sustainable construction
recycling
building life cycle
environmental footprint
carbon footprint
efficient use of materials

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

20 pages, 1194 KB

Open AccessArticle

Sensitivity of Product-Stage Global Warming Potential to Declared and Design Thermal Conductivity in Sustainable Retrofit Design

by Mateusz Smoczyk, Anna Szymczak-Graczyk and Barbara Ksit

Sustainability 2026, 18(10), 4875; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18104875 - 13 May 2026

Viewed by 159

Abstract

Thermal modernization of existing buildings is an important part of sustainability-oriented retrofit practice because it can reduce operational energy demand, but its environmental effect depends partly on the insulation material selected and on the thermal assumptions used in design. This study examines how the use of declared thermal conductivity (λ_decl) and design conductivity (λ_design) affects the required insulation thickness and the A1–A3 global warming potential (GWP) of alternative insulation materials for an attic ceiling separating heated space from an unheated ventilated attic in a multi-family building. This study supports product-stage sustainability assessment; it does not constitute a comparison of the full life cycle climate effect of the selected material groups. The thickness needed to achieve U_target = 0.15 W/(m²·K) was determined for scenarios based on λ_decl, temperature-corrected λ_design, and a moisture sensitivity analysis for cellulose. Environmental assessment was based on European EN 15804+A2-compliant EPDs, with separate reporting of GWP_fossil and GWP_biogenic. In the analyzed case, differences between material groups were driven mainly by EPD data, whereas conversion from declared to design thermal properties had a smaller, but not negligible, effect. This effect became more important for moisture-sensitive materials. The results show that sustainability-oriented environmental comparisons based only on declared thermal conductivity may be misleading when functionally equivalent solutions are compared. In the analyzed case, the transition from λ_decl to temperature-corrected λ_design resulted in only a small change in the required insulation thickness and the corresponding GWP result. At the same time, the scenario-based sensitivity analysis for cellulose insulation and the variability of data reported in the EPDs indicate that moisture-related assumptions and the selection of input data may be of greater importance. The results show that, when interpreting the environmental performance of insulation solutions in sustainable retrofit design, consistency should be maintained between the adopted functional unit and the method used to define the thermal properties of the material after installation in the building envelope. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Innovative Green Building Materials: Trends Revolutionizing the Construction Industry)

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27 pages, 1848 KB

Open AccessArticle

Development of a Fire Safety Assessment Model for Buildings in Poland Using the Analytic Hierarchy Process: Validation Through Pilot Study

by Przemysław Konopski, Wojciech Bonenberg and Roman Pilch

Sustainability 2026, 18(8), 3998; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18083998 - 17 Apr 2026

Viewed by 354

Abstract

Despite advances in engineering, fire safety improvements have plateaued in developed nations, necessitating a reassessment of resource allocation. This study develops a comprehensive fire safety assessment model for the Polish context using the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP). A panel of ten experts—comprising fire safety inspectors, State Fire Service officers, and architects—evaluated safety through a two-dimensional framework: the Fire Hazard Index (FHI) and Fire Safety Index (FSI). The results reveal a critical asymmetry: human factors (0.228) and combustible materials dominate the hazard landscape, whereas intelligent AI/IoT systems (0.4133) and passive protection (0.2113) offer the highest potential for safety enhancement. A novel “convergence–divergence” phenomenon was identified: hazard-focused assessments produce convergent priorities across building types (span 0.116), implying universal mitigation needs (e.g., education), while protection-focused assessments yield divergent priorities (span 0.250), justifying targeted investment. Specifically, healthcare facilities (ZL II) require disproportionate protection investment (priority 0.310). The study concludes that sustainable fire safety strategies must combine universal hazard mitigation with targeted technological interventions, offering a data-driven framework for policy optimization in Poland. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Innovative Green Building Materials: Trends Revolutionizing the Construction Industry)

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27 pages, 1192 KB

Open AccessArticle

Responsive Architecture and Fire Safety: A Comparative Review of Regulatory Regimes in the USA, Asia, and the EU/UK, with Implications for Poland in the Context of BIM/DT/AI/IoT

by Przemysław Konopski, Roman Pilch and Wojciech Bonenberg

Sustainability 2026, 18(8), 3808; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18083808 - 11 Apr 2026

Viewed by 1096

Abstract

This article compares selected fire safety regulatory systems in Japan, China, the United States, and the EU/UK, interpreted through the lens of responsive architecture and the implementation of digital technologies—building information modelling (BIM), digital twins (DTs), artificial intelligence (AI), and the Internet of Things (IoT). The study adopts a qualitative approach based on a structured review of legal acts, technical standards, public-sector reports, and the scientific and professional literature, organised using a common analytical framework. First, the analysis identifies shared foundations across regimes: the primacy of life safety, mandatory detection and alarm functions, fire compartmentation, requirements for protected means of exit, and the increasing importance of documenting the operational status of protection measures. Then, it contrasts key differences, including the permissibility of performance-based design (PBD), the degree to which digital documentation is formally recognised, organisational enforcement models, and cybersecurity approaches for integrated fire alarm/voice alarm/building management/IoT ecosystems. Japan and selected Chinese cities combine stringent requirements with openness to dynamic solutions and urban-scale data platforms. The USA relies on a decentralised code-based ecosystem with a strong role for professional and industry bodies, while the EU/UK continues to strengthen harmonised standards and digital building registers, reinforced by lessons after the Grenfell Tower fire. Against this background, Poland is discussed as broadly aligned in goals and baseline technical requirements yet lagging behind in implementing PBD pathways, digital registers, formal BIM/DT integration, and minimum cybersecurity requirements. The proposed directions for change aim to create a more predictable regulatory and technical framework for the development of responsive architecture and dynamic fire safety systems in Poland. The study contributes to the sustainability literature by framing regulatory readiness for digital fire safety as a lifecycle resilience strategy, directly relevant to safe, resource-efficient, and inclusive built environments. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Innovative Green Building Materials: Trends Revolutionizing the Construction Industry)

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20 pages, 1370 KB

Open AccessArticle

Nanosilver Modified Concrete as a Sustainable Strategy for Enhancing Structural Resilience to Flooding

by Marta Sybis, Justyna Staninska-Pięta, Agnieszka Piotrowska-Cyplik and Emilia Konował

Sustainability 2026, 18(2), 945; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18020945 - 16 Jan 2026

Viewed by 589

Abstract

Due to the heightened flood risk resulting from climate change, innovative and advanced green building materials are required to enhance the durability and biological resistance of concrete structures exposed to persistent moisture. This study investigates the use of nanosilver-enriched plasticizers as a novel modification of concrete for applications in flood-prone environments. The findings demonstrate that the incorporation of nanosilver enhances the mechanical strength of concrete by reducing surface tension and porosity, thereby enhancing durability and extending service life. Moreover, nanosilver-modified concrete exhibits significant antimicrobial activity, effectively limiting microbial-induced corrosion. Preliminary microbiological analyses showed a reduction of sulfur-oxidizing bacteria (SOB) and sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) by 85–92%, as well as a decrease of over 80% in potentially pathogenic microbial genera. This study also highlights the importance of skilled labor and adequate training to ensure the responsible implementation of nanosilver-based technologies in sustainable construction. Overall, nanosilver-enriched plasticizers represent an innovative green building material that supports flood-resilient, durable, and sustainable concrete construction. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Innovative Green Building Materials: Trends Revolutionizing the Construction Industry)

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