Advances in Building Sector for Achieving Net Zero Emission by 2050

Topic Information

Dear Colleagues,

I hope this message finds you well. I am excited to share this opportunity to contribute to a Topic, entitled "Advances in Building Sector for Achieving Net Zero Emission by 2050", which will explore the cutting-edge research, innovative technologies, and practical strategies driving the building sector's transition toward sustainability. This Topic aims to showcase the recent advancements in energy-efficient construction materials, smart building systems, renewable energy integration, and policy frameworks that support the net-zero emission agenda. Advances in the building sector are pivotal for achieving net-zero emissions by 2050, as buildings contribute significantly to global energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. Key innovations include the adoption of energy-efficient building materials, such as advanced insulation and reflective coatings, and the integration of smart building technologies that optimize energy use through real-time monitoring and automation. Renewable energy systems like solar panels and geothermal heating are increasingly being incorporated into building designs, alongside energy storage solutions to enhance self-sufficiency. The rise of net-zero buildings, which produce as much energy as they consume, is bolstered by supportive policies and green certification standards. Retrofitting existing structures with energy-efficient upgrades and adopting circular economy principles—recycling materials and reducing construction waste—further propel the sector toward sustainability. Together, these advancements align the building sector with global climate goals, reducing its environmental footprint while improving energy efficiency and resilience. We welcome submissions in the form of original research articles, case studies, and reviews. The deadline for manuscript submissions is December 2025, and all contributions will undergo a rigorous peer-review process to ensure high-quality publications. Should you be interested, please feel free to reach out for more details or to discuss potential topics. I believe your work could make a significant impact on this pressing global issue, and I would be delighted to collaborate further.

Dr. Md Morshed Alam
Dr. Iqbal Hossain
Dr. Jiaolan Zhu
Topic Editors

Keywords

Participating Journals

Journal Name	Impact Factor	CiteScore	Launched Year	First Decision (median)	APC
Architecture architecture	2.1	2.5	2021	18.9 Days	CHF 1200	Submit
Buildings buildings	3.4	5.6	2011	15.1 Days	CHF 2600	Submit
CivilEng civileng	2.8	4.4	2020	21.7 Days	CHF 1400	Submit
Climate climate	4.0	6.5	2013	20.8 Days	CHF 1800	Submit
Construction Materials constrmater	2.7	3.1	2021	20.9 Days	CHF 1200	Submit
Energies energies	3.9	8.3	2008	16.8 Days	CHF 2600	Submit
Sustainability sustainability	4.1	8.9	2009	17.9 Days	CHF 2400	Submit

Preprints.org is a multidisciplinary platform offering a preprint service designed to facilitate the early sharing of your research. It supports and empowers your research journey from the very beginning.

MDPI Topics is collaborating with Preprints.org and has established a direct connection between MDPI journals and the platform. Authors are encouraged to take advantage of this opportunity by posting their preprints at Preprints.org prior to publication:

1. Share your research immediately: disseminate your ideas prior to publication and establish priority for your work.
2. Safeguard your intellectual contribution: Protect your ideas with a time-stamped preprint that serves as proof of your research timeline.
3. Boost visibility and impact: Increase the reach and influence of your research by making it accessible to a global audience.
4. Gain early feedback: Receive valuable input and insights from peers before submitting to a journal.
5. Ensure broad indexing: Web of Science (Preprint Citation Index), Google Scholar, Crossref, SHARE, PrePubMed, Scilit and Europe PMC.

Published Papers (2 papers)

Order results

Content type Publication Date

Result details

Normal Extended Compact

Journals

All Buildings CivilEng Climate Construction Materials Energies Sustainability Architecture

Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less

Select all

Export citation of selected articles as:

Plain Text BibTeX BibTeX (without abstracts) Endnote Endnote (without abstracts) Tab-delimited RIS

Error

Oops... you haven't selected anything for export.

Ok

clear

31 pages, 27884 KB  

Open AccessArticle

A BIM-Driven Dynamic LCA Framework for Net Carbon Accounting of Buildings: A Case Study in Hot-Summer Region of China

by Qinghe Liu, Shushan Li, Zujun Liu and Hongmei Li

Sustainability 2026, 18(10), 4682; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18104682 - 8 May 2026

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 277

Abstract

Addressing the prevalent issues of scattered data sources, reliance on multi-software collaboration, and low integration efficiency between Building Information Modeling (BIM) and Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) in current building life cycle carbon emission accounting, this study aims to construct a BIM-driven, data-traceable automated [...] Read more.

Addressing the prevalent issues of scattered data sources, reliance on multi-software collaboration, and low integration efficiency between Building Information Modeling (BIM) and Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) in current building life cycle carbon emission accounting, this study aims to construct a BIM-driven, data-traceable automated method for building life cycle carbon accounting. This paper proposes a life cycle carbon accounting framework based on Revit secondary development. By defining unified data mapping rules and constructing a scalable localized carbon emission factor database, this framework achieves a seamless workflow from BIM model information extraction and intelligent factor matching to phased accounting and report generation. Taking an office building in Nanning as an empirical case study, the results indicate that the operational stage and the building material production stage are the primary emission sources, accounting for 78.82% and 24.13% of the total emissions, respectively; the transportation stage accounts for 1.68%; the construction stage accounts for 0.40%; and the demolition and recycling stage exhibits negative emissions of −3.53% due to material recovery benefits. The accounting results of the developed plugin exhibit a relative error of 6.67% compared to traditional methods, and the robustness of the accounting framework is verified through uncertainty analysis. Sensitivity analysis further reveals that the grid emission factor, key material factors, and building design service life are the core variables affecting carbon emissions. The contribution of this study lies in proposing an operable and scalable BIM-LCA integrated solution. Its practical value resides in providing a real-time data feedback tool for low-carbon optimization during the building design stage, as well as offering a highly transparent methodological reference for carbon accounting in engineering practice, thereby supporting data-driven decision-making in the pursuit of sustainable urban development. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Advances in Building Sector for Achieving Net Zero Emission by 2050)

►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

19 pages, 3650 KB  

Open AccessArticle

Impacts of Hydrogen Blending on High-Rise Building Gas Distribution Systems: Case Studies in Weifang, China

by Yitong Xie, Xiaomei Huang, Haidong Xu, Guohong Zhang, Binji Wang, Yilin Zhao and Fengwen Pan

Buildings 2026, 16(2), 294; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings16020294 - 10 Jan 2026

Viewed by 917

Abstract

Hydrogen is widely regarded as a promising clean energy carrier, and blending hydrogen into existing natural gas pipelines is considered a cost-effective and practical pathway for large-scale deployment. Supplying hydrogen-enriched natural gas to buildings requires careful consideration of the safe operation of pipelines [...] Read more.

Hydrogen is widely regarded as a promising clean energy carrier, and blending hydrogen into existing natural gas pipelines is considered a cost-effective and practical pathway for large-scale deployment. Supplying hydrogen-enriched natural gas to buildings requires careful consideration of the safe operation of pipelines and appliances without introducing new risks. In this study, on-site demonstrations and experimental tests were conducted in two high-rise buildings in Weifang to evaluate the impact of hydrogen addition on high-rise building natural gas distribution systems. The results indicate that hydrogen blending up to 20% by volume does not cause stratification in building risers and leads only to a relatively minor increase in additional pressure, approximately 0.56 Pa/m for every 10% increase in hydrogen addition. While hydrogen addition may increase leakage primarily in aging indoor gas systems, gas meter leakage rates under a 10% hydrogen blend remain below 3 mL/h, satisfying safety requirements. In addition, in-service domestic gas alarms remain effective under hydrogen ratios of 0–20%, with average response times of approximately 19–20 s. These findings help clarify the safety performance of hydrogen-blended natural gas in high-rise building distribution systems and provide practical adjustment measures to support future hydrogen injection projects. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Advances in Building Sector for Achieving Net Zero Emission by 2050)

►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less

Select all

Export citation of selected articles as:

Plain Text BibTeX BibTeX (without abstracts) Endnote Endnote (without abstracts) Tab-delimited RIS

 

Error

Oops... you haven't selected anything for export.

Ok

clear

Displaying articles 1-2