Towards a Sustainable Future

Energy efficient houses consume less energy while maintaining or improving the comfort conditions of occupants. Energy efficient buildings result in less environmental impact and are economically and environmentally sustainable. Residential buildings account for the majority of electricity consumption in Nigeria. Because of the poor state of energy generation and transmission in Nigeria energy efficiency measures are necessary to reduce the energy required in houses. This would substantially reduce the dependence on the grid electricity supply. Energy efficient buildings have tremendous benefits in social, economic, and environmental terms. In economic terms the production of energy-efficient buildings result in growing market demand with higher quality and innovative buildings, and in social terms it leads to improved urban space and local climate, and liveable buildings. Energy efficient buildings also ensure resource efficiency, and reduction of Green House Gas emissions. Energy efficiency in buildings starts from the design of buildings, and through to construction and operation. The objective of this paper is the examination of energy efficiency in housing in Nigeria and its impact upon socio-economic development in the country. The paper focuses on energy-efficient design strategies, and initiatives to achieve low carbon emission in housing in Nigeria The paper examines the housing situation in Nigeria and the phenomenon of urbanisation which has led to unplanned urban growth, grievous housing poverty, slum formation, and near collapse of urban services and infrastructure particularly electricity supply. It affirms the need to adopt energy efficiency in housing and it examines passive design strategies and low carbon initiatives in housing construction. It takes a critical look at the adoption of sustainability practices in housing. The paper asserts that energy efficiency would enhance the growth of electricity consumption and boost the socio-economic development of the country. The paper concludes that energy efficiency is capable of engendering socio-economic development of the country particularly productivity and income growth.

The emergence of Information Technology (IT) based sensing has received increasing attention and acceptance in buildings due to its noninvasive nature and its ability in delivering real-time and potentially highly personalized feedback to building energy and comfort management. This study presents results of a pilot deployment experiment on such an IT-based sensing system - Personal Office Energy Monitor (POEM) developed by Intel Labs. The pilot study shows that with appropriate analytic methods the POEM sensor data could be transferred into valuable inputs to building management system (BMS). This study applies building science principle based models as the first step to calculate intermediate building performance indices based on raw measurement data. The intermediate performance indices are then further analyzed in order to reveal potential means to improve a building's operational energy efficiency and occupant comfort. Results demonstrate that POEM sensor data could lead to energy saving opportunities through localized comfort management, plug load sensing and scheduling, and occupancy based building control. As an IT platform-integrated and occupant centered sensing system, POEM provides a convenient, low-cost, and efficient sensing solution to the next generation of smart buildings, featured by its ability in assisting BMS to improve operational building energy efficiency without compromising occupants' thermal comfort and indoor environmental quality.

Does the energy efficiency of buildings bring price premiums? Evidence from urban micro-level energy data

Building energy and environmental efficiency is presently one of the most important research subjects due to global climate change and the actual geopolitical situation. Residential buildings should provide a comfortable environment for the occupants while they spend up to 90% of their life indoors. Moreover, a comfortable indoor environment should be provided efficiently and affordably. Thus, the examination of the correlated factors of buildings' energy efficiency and occupants' comfort is highly anticipated. This field can be analyzed using various methods, where computational simulations are the most comprehensive technique. Unfortunately, buildings' simulated energy demands usually differ from the actual use. There are numerous uncertainties impacting buildings' energy demand, likewise, those parameters are usually strongly correlated. Therefore, parametric analyses are a valuable approach allowing us better understanding of various phenomena occurring in buildings. This article shows some preliminary results of the case study analysis for a residential building in Poland examining the impact of residents' thermal comfort on the buildings' energy performance. This study will be continued and expanded to fully understand the occupants' behavior impact on building energy performance. Studies like this are helpful for future building design, following the paradigm of sustainable development.

The world is undergoing rapid transformation, particularly in terms of population growth, which has significant implications for energy consumption and sustainability. Projections indicate that existing primary energy sources may be depleted within the next century, underscoring the urgent need to enhance energy efficiency in the built environment. Buildings, as one of the largest consumers of energy, contribute substantially to global energy demand. As cities expand and populations rise, energy efficiency in buildings becomes even more critical to achieving sustainable development. The United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) emphasise the importance of "Sustainable Cities and Communities (SDG11)", reinforcing the necessity of reducing energy consumption through innovative strategies and technologies. This topical collection brings together pioneering research that offers novel approaches for optimising energy use in buildings, integrating digital tools, improving architectural education, and enhancing sustainability in school environments. The studies presented here provide practical solutions and insights for advancing energy efficiency in the built environment.The article by Borodinecs et al. presents a framework for continuous dynamic energy simulations to enhance decision-making in office building operations. Through OpenStudio modelling and Python-based modifications, the research demonstrates how optimising the operation of air handling units alone can significantly improve energy efficiency while maintaining occupant comfort.Additionally, the study highlights the potential for integrating digital twins with machine learning algorithms to automate building energy optimisation strategies, further advancing sustainable building management.Addressing the sustainability of educational environments, the study by Salameh and Touqan explores the impact of courtyard orientation on microclimate and energy consumption in hot climates. Using a standardised template applied to numerous school buildings, the study finds that north-facing courtyards provide cooler microclimates, reducing both indoor temperatures and cooling demands.These findings reinforce the importance of strategic design considerations in educational facilities, offering practical solutions for enhancing thermal comfort and sustainability in hot climates.

There has been a growing awareness to include passive design concepts in buildings as a design strategy for achieving energy efficiency and optimum indoor thermal comfort in workspaces as well. The challenging task for the building designers in the hot-humid tropics is the provision of indoor environmental thermal comfort for the occupants of the building while controlling energy use for the office space. This study has been conducted to investigate the post occupancy evaluation of occupants’ satisfaction in the working-spaces of two energy-efficient office buildings in a tropical country viz., Malaysia. Two office buildings, which have been classified as energy efficient buildings, in Malaysia were selected for the case study. One of them is a Low Energy Office (LEO) building, designed for low energy consumption and the second one is a Zero Energy Office (ZEO) building which was designed for demonstration of renewable energy applications. From the research it is seen that the thermal comfort parameters l...

Economic growth is increasing the demand for energy. Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) have been identified to play an important role in reducing the energy intensity and increasing the energy efficiency of the European Union (EU) economy. ICT will not only improve energy efficiency and help combat climate change, they will also stimulate the development of a large leading-edge market for ICT enabled energy-efficiency technologies that will foster the competitiveness of European industry and create new business opportunities. As ICT are today pervasive to all industrial and business domains, they are expected to generate deep impacts in energy efficiency of buildings of tomorrow. Although versatile statistical information is available on energy consumption in different buildings, there is still limited understanding about the potential of ICT to reduce energy consumption. In order to put ICT at the core of the energy efficiency effort and to enable reaching its full potential, it is necessary to foster research and development (R&D) into novel ICT-based solutions and strengthen their take-up — so that the energy intensity of the economy can be further reduced by adding intelligence to components, equipment and services. In this paper, ICT based support tools to energy efficiency in the so-called smart buildings are investigated. The state-of-the-art in ICT for smart buildings is discussed with focuses on the role of ICT and key fundamental fields in which R&D efforts are needed to enable the energy efficiency in future smart buildings. Five key areas including design and simulation tools, interoperability/standards, building automation, smart metering and user-awareness tools have been identified where there is potential to improve energy efficiency through the use of ICT, and they are considered as the next generation ICT for future smart buildings. As an energy efficient housing example, the Lighthouse built in the UK is discussed in detail along with its ICT integrated building services and demonstration data of energy use. This gives a better understanding of the impacts of ICT on the energy efficiency in buildings. The paper concludes that in order to achieve the energy efficiency in buildings, further support of multidisciplinary R&D and innovation demonstrating the potential of ICT based solutions are needed to foster and accelerate the deployment of energy efficient solutions in buildings.

High window-to-wall ratios (WWRs) are commonly used in office buildings, yet their effects on thermal comfort and energy consumption are not fully understood. This study uses TRNSYS software to analyze the thermal environment of buildings with varying WWRs (0%–100%) in Qingdao. The findings show that as WWRs increase, the average monthly maximum temperatures (Tmax) rise between 1.33°C and 5.62°C. Middle floors (F2–F3) are consistently warmer than the ground (F1) and top floors (F4). In summer, higher WWRs (>60%) significantly reduce the prevalence of extremely high temperatures (>37°C) by 0.64% to 11.29%. High WWRs also improve nocturnal heat dissipation, increasing the percentage of temperatures within the thermal comfort range and reducing heating loads by 0.62% to 1.08%. Implementing shading facilities during summer further enhances thermal comfort and energy efficiency in buildings with high WWRs.

In an era where the global community faces unprecedented environmental, energy, and technological challenges, the field of physics continues to be at the forefront of innovation, offering transformative solutions for a more sustainable future. Breakthrough Research and Technologies in Physics for a Sustainable Future brings together a diverse collection of pioneering studies and technological advancements that illustrate the powerful intersection of theoretical insights, experimental discoveries, and applied physics in addressing sustainability concerns. This book explores the rich landscape of physics-driven breakthroughs aimed at ensuring long-term environmental balance, energy efficiency, and technological sustainability. Covering a wide range of topics, including the development of smart materials, renewable energy innovations, quantum technologies, and eco-friendly nanotechnology applications, each chapter presents both foundational research and novel approaches to practical implementation. These contributions reflect not only the ingenuity of researchers but also a shared vision for leveraging scientific knowledge to meet the needs of a rapidly evolving world. We hope this compilation serves as a valuable resource for researchers, practitioners, educators, and policymakers who are engaged in the pursuit of sustainable development through science and technology. It is our belief that physics, as both a fundamental and applied discipline, holds the key to many of the solutions our planet urgently requires. May this book inspire further inquiry, collaboration, and innovation in the ongoing journey toward a sustainable and equitable future.

A review on the factors influencing energy efficiency of mosque buildings

Buildings contribute approximately 40% of global energy consumption and 15% of direct CO2 emissions from end-use sectors, primarily due to heating and cooling needs, typically met by grid electricity. This study assessed the thermal comfort and its role in enhancing energy efficiency in tropical buildings. This review examines thermal comfort parameters, building materials, and design strategies suited for tropical environments, focusing on factors like air circulation, thermal mass, and sustainable materials. It identifies critical gaps in current building codes and emphasizes the need for integrated approaches that align energy efficiency with occupant comfort. Passive design strategies and renewable energy technologies are explored as innovative solutions to achieve substantial energy savings and improved indoor environments, particularly in low-income housing. The study also addresses socioeconomic barriers to energy-efficient solutions in low-income settings and proposes stakeholder engagement strategies involving government bodies, NGOs, and local communities. This research highlights the critical role of optimizing thermal comfort in achieving energy efficiency in low-income tropical buildings. By focusing on occupant well-being and energy performance, the study provides a pathway for policymakers, architects, and urban planners to advance sustainable, economically viable, and environmentally friendly built environments in tropical regions. The study aligns with SDGs 3, 7, 9, 11, 12, 13, and 17, contributing to environmental sustainability and climate resilience. It promotes health, well-being, and economic benefits for vulnerable populations by integrating technological innovations, sustainable design practices, and effective policy measures, fostering a comprehensive approach to energy efficiency and thermal comfort in low-income tropical buildings.

El cambio climático ha afectado de manera desproporcionada a los sectores más vulnerables, y la eficiencia energética en edificaciones emerge como clave para mitigar y adaptarse a estos efectos. En México, los climas cálidos secos predominan en el 53% del territorio, especialmente en el norte, y aunque existe normativa para la eficiencia energética en la edificación, ésta tiene un impacto limitado. El estudio evalúa los costos y beneficios de dicha normativa que considera viviendas comunes en distintos climas de un estado del norte de México donde se analizaron 180 modelos y se concluyó que cumplir con la normativa aumentaría el costo de la vivienda en 1.93%, reduciría el consumo eléctrico en 26% y disminuiría las emisiones de CO2e en 16.95%. Estos beneficios se obtuvieron sin cambiar los sistemas constructivos más utilizados y se priorizó sistemas de sombreado. Los resultados podrían orientar a políticas públicas más adecuadas a los contextos locales.

The imperative to address climate change has never been more urgent. As the world grapples with increasing temperatures, rising sea levels, and extreme weather events, the role of legal scholarship in shaping policies for a sustainable future is increasingly critical. This letter aims to address the vital contribution of legal scholarship to climate change policy, emphasizing its unique position to bridge theory and practice, advocate for environmental justice, and facilitate the transition towards sustainable futures. By analyzing and proposing legal frameworks that prioritize adaptive capacity and social equity, legal scholars ensure that climate policies do not merely respond to environmental challenges but also contribute to building stronger, more just communities. In conclusion, the critical role of legal scholarship in shaping climate change policy cannot be overstated. As we navigate the complexities of global environmental challenges, the insights, analysis, and advocacy provided by legal scholars are indispensable in guiding our collective efforts towards a sustainable and equitable future. It is imperative that the legal community continues to engage with and contribute to the climate change discourse, ensuring that laws and policies not only address current environmental issues but also anticipate and mitigate future challenges. Let this letter serve as a call to action for legal scholars, policymakers, and society at large to recognize and leverage the unique contributions of legal scholarship in our global fight against climate change.

The policy of energy management in public buildings procurements through the study of the process of delegated project management - Case of Morocco

Energy efficiency in the sustainable refurbishment of high-rise residential buildings: mapping out an integrated policy approach