Low-Carbon Buildings and Sustainable Cities
A special issue of Urban Science (ISSN 2413-8851).
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 1 July 2026 | Viewed by 34
Special Issue Editors
Interests: building energy performance; indoor environmental quality; renewable energy integration; life cycle assessment; carbon footprint
Interests: urban energy management; energy transition
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Interests: life cycle analysis in buildings; life cycle analysis in bridges; optimization in the design of structures and bridges; dynamics of railway bridges; timber construction; seismic design of buildings
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Low-carbon buildings and sustainable cities address the urgent need for innovative strategies and disruptive technologies and policies to drastically reduce carbon emissions from buildings and urban infrastructure while enhancing sustainability and decent livability worldwide. This Special Issue, entitled “Low-Carbon Buildings and Sustainable Cities,” explores the critical intersection of decarbonizing the built environment and fostering resilient urban development. It aims to consolidate and disseminate cutting-edge research and practical applications, serving as a vital evidence-based platform for fostering interdisciplinary critical analysis and dialog among researchers, policymakers, industry professionals, and urban planners. This Special Issue seeks to advance the understanding and application of sustainable solutions, bridging the gap between academic insights and real-world implementation to inspire efforts towards environmentally responsible buildings and cities that enhance quality of life.
This Special Issue focuses on the interdisciplinary challenges and innovative solutions at the nexus of achieving low-carbon buildings and fostering sustainable urban development, delving into strategies, technologies, policies, and behavioral issues that contribute to significantly reducing the carbon footprint of the built environment and enhancing the overall sustainability and resilience of urban areas. The scope is broad, encompassing various scales and disciplines, including examining the entire lifecycle of buildings from design and construction to operation, renovation, and deconstruction within the broader context of urban planning and infrastructure. It covers building level, urban level, policy and governance, social and behavioral aspects, technological innovations, and assessment and metrics.
The purpose is to highlight cutting-edge evidence-based research, practical case studies, and policy recommendations that bridge the gap between academic insights and real-world implementation. It seeks to identify emerging trends, pinpoint future research directions, and formulate robust policy recommendations that can significantly accelerate the transition towards more environmentally responsible and resilient urban areas, ultimately inspiring and informing efforts towards creating a future where buildings and cities contribute to a more decent and higher quality of life for all urban inhabitants.
In this Special Issue, original research articles and reviews are welcome. Research areas may include, but are not limited to the following:
- Advanced low-carbon building materials and design;
- Circular economy principles in construction and urban development;
- Life cycle assessment, sustainability indicators, and carbon reduction methodologies;
- Smart energy systems, renewable energy integration, and energy storage;
- Energy efficiency, retrofitting strategies, and passive design in buildings;
- Technological innovations such as AI, data analytics, smart grids, and digital twins;
- Sustainable architecture and urban planning, green infrastructure, and low-carbon mobility solutions;
- Policy frameworks that accelerate low-carbon, energy, and materials transitions;
- Social equity considerations, occupant behavior, and public engagement.
We look forward to receiving your contributions.
Dr. Tania Rus
Dr. Andrei Ceclan
Dr. Jose Manuel Olmos
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. Urban Science is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly 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 1600 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
- net-zero buildings
- life cycle assessment (LCA)
- circular economy
- renewable energy integration
- built environment energy efficiency
- sustainable urban development
- sustainable and smart cities
- climate resilience
- agenda 2030 (SDGs)
- environmental policy and governance
Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue
- Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
- 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.