Net Zero Energy Settlements
A special issue of Urban Science (ISSN 2413-8851).
Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 July 2022) | Viewed by 15027
Special Issue Editor
Interests: sustainable building development; building energy efficiency; net-zero energy buildings; positive energy districts; climate adaptation and mitigation; energy transitions; energy poverty
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
The concept of net zero energy building (NZEB), applied at new and existing buildings, provides the opportunity to improve the environmental performance of the building sector.
NZEBs can achieve an annual energy balance close to zero thanks to the combined synergy of building-integrated energy conservation strategies and renewable energy generation systems.
Several examples of NZEBs can be found around the world.
Despite all the drivers and benefits associated with the implementation of NZEBs, important barriers are still limiting their global diffusion. One of the most critical barriers is the high capital cost associated with the NZEB.
The transition from NZEB to net zero energy settlements, where the overall annual energy consumption at the settlement scale is covered by the renewable energy generated on site, can help to overcome the cost barrier as a result of the economies of scales, as well as to increase the energy efficiency and the CO2 offsetting of the overall urban system and the impact of mitigation strategies for counteracting the urban heat island (UHI) phenomenon.
This Special Issue aims to explore recent trends around the following research topics that underpin net-zero energy urban systems, from NZEB toward NZE settlements and positive energy districts (PEDs):
- Decision-making theories, tools, and methodologies;
- Energy conservation strategies and high-performance building materials;
- RES technologies, hybrid energy systems, and standardized interfaces between different technologies;
- Smart grids, smart energy management systems, AI and IoT in energy management, and energy storage;
- Indoor air quality, thermal comfort, and post occupancy evaluation;
- Energy information systems to engage urban communities;
- UHI mitigation strategies and assessment of the local microclimate;
- Case studies including new and existing urban developments;
- Best practice for the phases of design, construction, monitoring, and operation.
Dr. Gloria Pignatta
Guest Editor
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Keywords
- sustainable built environment
- net zero energy buildings
- positive energy districts
- building performance monitoring and evaluation
- res technologies
- smart energy management systems
- local microclimate
- climate mitigation and adaptation
- post occupancy evaluation (poe)
- urban energy communities
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