Sustainable Building Structures

Dear Colleagues,

The building industry is vital for the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, namely, economic growth, social progress, and the effective protection of the environment. Already, many building materials and structures have been designed and optimized to enhance sustainability.

The idea of sustainable building structures is to reduce the environmental load, connect with the environment, and benefit the health of the occupant. These structures are to reduce energy consumption, save water, reduce pollution, protect the environment, protect ecology, protect health, and improve productivity.

Since structural systems can currently account up to thirty percent of the total building cost, they must also be part of sustainable design practices. This can be achieved throught innovative design methodologies which account for the interaction between structures and energy efficiency strategies, in addition to the often considered interaction between architectural and structural forms, as well as between architecture and energy efficiency. This is a key factor to achieve simultaneously high structural and building energy performances.

This topic aims to collect the results of research and practice experiences in sustainable building structures, and other relevant and related topics. The submission of papers within those areas is strongly encouraged.

Dr. Luís Filipe Almeida Bernardo
Dr. Miguel Nepomuceno
Topic Editors