Built Environment and Sustainable Energy Efficiency

Dear Colleagues,

The built environment plays a pivotal role in the global effort to achieve sustainable development. With buildings accounting for a significant proportion of energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions worldwide, enhancing energy efficiency within this sector is critical. Innovations in materials, construction techniques, energy systems, and urban planning offer promising opportunities to minimize environmental impacts while maintaining functionality, comfort, and resilience.

The intersection of the built environment and sustainability is central to addressing the urgent challenges of climate change and resource depletion. With buildings and infrastructure accounting for a substantial share of global energy use and emissions, improving energy efficiency is not merely a technical goal—it is a moral imperative for achieving a sustainable future.

This Special Issue, titled "Built Environment and Sustainable Energy Efficiency", aims to bring together cutting-edge research and perspectives on integrating energy-efficient practices into the design, construction, and operation of the built environment. The Special Issue will serve as a platform for interdisciplinary dialog, addressing the technological, economic, social, and policy dimensions of energy efficiency.

Scope and Themes

We aim to curate research and insights that advance the integration of sustainable practices into the design, construction, and operation of the built environment. This Special Issue emphasizes holistic and transformative strategies that align energy efficiency with broader sustainability objectives, including resource conservation, climate adaptation, and social well-being. Suggested topics include, but are not limited to, the following:

1. Sustainable Building Design and Performance 

• Passive and active energy-saving strategies emphasizing occupant well-being.
• Renewable energy integration for carbon-neutral buildings.
• Design frameworks promoting resource efficiency and climate resilience.

2. Green Construction Practices and Material

• Sustainable materials that enhance energy efficiency and reduce embodied carbon.
• Construction methods that minimize waste and energy use.
• Strategies for retrofitting and rehabilitating buildings for sustainable performance.

3. Urban Sustainability and Energy Optimization

• Sustainable urban planning and zoning for low-carbon cities.
• Nature-based solutions and green infrastructure in urban energy systems.
• Smart technologies enabling energy-efficient and resilient communities.

4. Policy, Equity, and Sustainability Synergies

• Policy frameworks supporting equitable access to energy-efficient housing.
• Economic models integrating lifecycle sustainability in energy upgrades.
• Addressing the social dimensions of energy efficiency, including affordability and inclusivity.

5. Innovative Practices and Global Perspectives

• Case studies showcasing sustainable energy efficiency in diverse climatic and cultural contexts.
• Lessons learned from grassroots and policy-driven sustainability efforts.
• Collaboration across sectors to scale sustainable energy solutions.

Audience and Impact

This Special Issue will appeal to a multidisciplinary audience, including architects, engineers, urban planners, environmental scientists, and policymakers. It aims to inspire transformative practices that advance the dual goals of energy efficiency and sustainability. By emphasizing systems thinking and actionable solutions, the Special Issue will contribute to global efforts to reduce carbon footprints, enhance resilience, and promote equitable access to sustainably built environments.

Dr. João Carlos Gonçalves Lanzinha
Dr. Ana Briga-Sá
Dr. Eduarda Cristina Pires Luso
Dr. Pedro Manuel Isaac Brandão
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.