Operational and embodied emissions in life cycle analysis of Biopolymers in Northeastern United States buildings.

In cold regions with prolonged subzero temperatures and abundant solar radiation, Trombe walls serve as high-efficiency passive solar building envelopes for improving indoor thermal comfort. This study aims to optimize the thermal performance of Trombe walls via a multimodal data analysis framework and a multiview measurement algorithm. Three distinct Trombe wall configurations were constructed and continuously monitored for 60 consecutive days under typical winter conditions (average temperature: −15 °C; solar radiation intensity: 800–1100 W/m2). Field-measured datasets, including solar radiation intensity, hourly air temperature distribution, and heat exchange efficiency, were systematically analyzed to quantify the impacts of ventilation mode, air gap width, and insulation thickness on thermal performance. The results demonstrate that the hourly peak surface temperature of the optimized Trombe wall reaches 25.7 °C at 13:00, which significantly improves indoor thermal comfort compared with conventional buildings. An air gap width of 6 cm minimizes indoor temperature fluctuations (fluctuation coefficient = 0.08), while a 20 mm insulation layer stabilizes heat loss reduction at 31.1% relative to non-insulated walls. The optimal operational parameter combination (6 cm air gap, 16 °C indoor set temperature) was determined based on the lowest temperature fluctuation and highest thermal efficiency, with experimental results deviating by less than 5% from established analytical models. This study verifies the reliability of the multimodal data analysis framework for Trombe wall performance evaluation, providing practical design guidelines for passive solar building envelopes in cold regions.

With the rise of telecommunication systems in recent decades, the implications for human health have prompted a search for ways to reduce the impact of electromagnetic waves in buildings when necessary. A viable and promising solution to realize electromagnetic shielding could be the use of drywall panels coated with a biochar paste, as proposed in this study. Biochar (bio-charcoal), a low-cost and carbon-based material, can be obtained by the thermochemical conversion of different biomass sources. A commercial wood-based biochar thermally treated at 750 °C is considered in this work. Transmission coefficients of several gypsum board elements with a biochar coating are measured in the frequency K-band (18–27 GHz). In addition, the SE of a double panel configuration, obtained by joining two coated boards to form a multilayer structure, is evaluated. The results show that the biochar coating significantly enhances the SE compared to uncoated drywall. At the highest biochar loading investigated (0.20 g/cm2), the shielding effectiveness consistently exceeds 27 dB for single panels and 46 dB for double panels across the entire frequency band. These findings indicate that biochar-coated drywall systems offer a practical and sustainable solution for integrating electromagnetic shielding into building envelopes, paving the way for innovative applications in indoor exposure control.

Residential buildings in Erbil City are increasingly facing challenges due to climatic extremes, rapid urbanization, and inadequate insulation practices. This study investigates the effects of insulation material type and placement on the thermal performance of external walls in both newly constructed and refurbished houses under the hot semiarid climate (BSh). Using integrated environmental solutions virtual environment (IES-VE) simulations, various wall systems—concrete, brick, and lightweight block—were assessed with different insulation types (expanded polystyrene (EPS), extruded polystyrene (XPS), rock wool (RW), and mineral wool (MW)) applied either internally or externally. Field surveys combined with numerical simulations demonstrated that external insulation significantly enhances thermal mass without diminishing insulation effectiveness, leading to greater energy savings and improved indoor comfort. Among all configurations, externally applied XPS on concrete and lightweight block walls achieved the highest resistance values (R-values) and the greatest reductions in heating and cooling loads. The results indicate that prioritizing the placement of external insulation can support the development of more energy-efficient and climate-responsive housing policies in Erbil. This research offers evidence-based recommendations for optimizing building envelope design in similar climatic contexts.

With the progression of urban renewal, the functional transformation of numerous old industrial heritage buildings has imposed new demands on their indoor physical environments. This paper focuses on the adaptive renovation of thermal environments in old industrial buildings, using two case studies: Welding Workshop (Before Renovation) and the Cylinder Casting Workshop (After Renovation) of Hefei Motor Factory and Diesel Engine Factory. By integrating on-site thermal environment measurements and subjective thermal sensation questionnaires, we employs statistical regression methods to analyze the relationship between operative temperature and actual thermal sensation (MTS) and subjective thermal discomfort. The study identifies the acceptable temperature range and duration proportion in old industrial buildings, and further compares objective and subjective differences in human thermal comfort between summer and transitional seasons in the same workshop. Based on the acceptable duration proportion, a quantitative relationship between subjective sensations and operative temperature is established. These findings offer theoretical and empirical support for green renovation strategies of existing industrial buildings and design optimization of new constructions. Practical application This study provides empirical, decision-support evidence for the green renovation of industrial heritage. At its core, it establishes operative temperature as a critical design parameter and adopts the acceptable duration proportion of thermal comfort as a quantifiable target—thereby translating comfort needs into actionable design language. The data support a practical approach combining enhanced building envelope performance with flexible indoor environmental adjustments to balance heritage preservation and thermal comfort improvements. This research framework can be integrated into the design justification, scheme comparison, and post-occupancy evaluation processes of similar projects, offering a scientific and operational reference for enhancing environmental performance in the adaptive reuse of industrial heritage.

Thermal comfort regulation in buildings located in hot climates, such as Indonesia, remains highly dependent on air conditioning (AC) systems, leading to substantial energy consumption. Integrating Phase Change Materials (PCM) into building envelopes offers a passive thermal management strategy to reduce cooling loads. This study investigates the thermal performance of a gypsum-based wall incorporating a eutectic fatty acid PCM (laurate–stearate) of 85:15 (wt%) modified with polylactic acid (PLA) at three PCM:PLA ratios (1:0.6, 1:0.8, and 1:1), alongside a control sample without PCM. Samples were fabricated at laboratory scale and evaluated using a mini-cubicle system under controlled charging and discharging conditions. Energy performance was assessed through temperature change rates and heat transfer (q) analysis at three measurement points (T1, T2, T3). Results demonstrate that PLA modification significantly enhances PCM performance, with the 1:0.8 ratio (bPCM) exhibiting optimal behavior. During charging, bPCM achieved the lowest temperature change rates of 4.75 °C/h at T1, 1.15 °C/h at T2, and 0.65 °C/h at T3 and the minimum heat transfer from T2 to T3 of 32.049 J. Similarly, during discharging, bPCM maintained the smallest temperature change rates of 2.2 °C/h at T1, 1.0 °C/h at T2, and 0.65 °C/h at T3 with the lowest heat transfer to the indoor zone of 32.033 J. These findings confirm that optimized PLA-modified eutectic PCM significantly improves heat absorption, latent heat storage, and thermal insulation performance compared to non-PCM and non-optimized compositions. The proposed composite wall system demonstrates strong potential for passive cooling enhancement and building energy efficiency improvement in hot-climate regions

Rapid urbanization has significantly increased energy demand in buildings, which now represent nearly 30% of global energy use. In India, buildings are built across highly varied climatic conditions, from hot-dry and warm-humid to cold, high-altitude areas, making climate-responsive envelope design essential to enhance thermal performance. Among envelope components, roofs are the most exposed to solar and outdoor thermal loads, playing a key role in managing indoor heat transfer. This study offers a parametric analysis of climate-responsive roof design strategies for India’s five main climatic zones, using transient simulations and statistical evaluation. The effectiveness of insulation placement, insulation material and thickness, and external surface absorptivity was systematically assessed based on roof heat gain and heat loss. Results indicate that over-slab insulation can lower roof heat gain by approximately 15–35% compared to under-slab insulation in warm-humid, hot-dry, composite, and temperate zones. In comparison, under-slab insulation decreases heat loss by about 10% in colder areas. Among insulation materials, 50 mm polyurethane foam (U = 0.433 W/m2·K) consistently outperformed extruded polystyrene and expanded polystyrene, achieving 82–83% reductions in maximum heat gain in cooling-dominated climates and 89% reductions in heat loss in cold regions relative to uninsulated roofs. When combined with a white reflective surface finish (α = 0.26), the total heat transfer reduction increased further to 89–92%. Surface treatments alone cut heat gain by 37–51% in non-cold climates, highlighting their potential as cost-effective retrofit options. Statistical analysis confirmed that dry-bulb temperature is the primary climatic factor influencing roof heat transfer (R2 = 0.86–0.98, p < 0.0001), while solar radiation had a weaker effect, especially in optimized roof systems. The findings emphasize the importance of climate-specific roof design and demonstrate that insulation U-value has a greater impact on thermal performance than surface absorptivity, although both are significant. This research offers practical, climate-adjusted guidance for architects, engineers, and policymakers to enhance the thermal performance of roofs in Indian buildings. It supports the development of more resilient, energy-efficient building envelopes.

Analysis of uncertainties in the fatigue damage of low-rise building envelopes under non-Gaussian wind pressures based on the Tovo-Benasciutti method with different translation functions

Integrating greenery systems and active insulation into adaptive building envelopes for enhanced sustainability and thermal resilience

Climate-adaptive building envelopes: Benchmarking thermochromic coatings against static cool surfaces under future warming and occupancy scenarios

Escalating climate change and the increasing frequency of weather extremes pose a threat to the resilience of urban environments and human health, highlighting the urgent need for implementing energy-efficient interventions and reducing building cooling loads. This study investigates the passive building envelope retrofit technologies of external shading, electrochromic windows, and thermochromic windows through a multi-criteria evaluation analysis based on energy savings, economic performance, and indoor thermal comfort improvement. Thermochromic windows are discerned by a mean colour transition temperature of 34 °C and operate throughout the entire year, while electrochromic windows are activated only during cooling periods. Both technologies present total solar transmittance indices of 72.6% and 8.4% in the bleached and tinted state, respectively. External shading devices are either static or movable, applied with an inclination angle, and are either standalone interventions or combined with chromogenic glazing. Eight retrofit scenarios are investigated for a single-story, fully electrified residential building in Athens, Greece. The building features south- and east-oriented windows, which is an appropriate case to assess the effectiveness of these passive envelope cooling technologies in regulating solar heat gains. Thermal comfort is assessed using Fanger’s PMV (predicted mean vote) and PPD (Predicted Percentage of Dissatisfied) indices. The combination of electrochromic windows and movable external shading yields the highest annual electricity savings at 22.2% and reduces the PPD by 15.8%. Local static shading, on the other hand, ranks as the optimal retrofit solution in terms of economic performance, with a life-cycle cost of €6378, a 9.3% improvement in thermal comfort, and a corresponding reduction of 626 thermal discomfort hours. While the proposed multi-criteria framework can be applied to other buildings and climates, the quantitative results reported here are linked to the specific case examined: a residential building with south- and east-facing glazing in Athens, Greece, representing Mediterranean climatic conditions.

Optimization of PCM-enhanced residential building envelopes in cold climates: Energy performance and cost-effectiveness analysis

Recent advances in machine learning for advanced building envelopes: From prediction to optimisation

Smart thermal energy storage system integrated into the building envelope for photovoltaic surplus management

Performance assessment of passive building envelope considering microclimate and shadows in urban context

In situ Evaluation of Non-Destructive Methods for Assessing the Insulation Performance of Heavyweight Building Envelopes

Hospitals are resource-intensive facilities with continuous operations that result in high energy and water consumption, making the implementation of green building technology essential to improve environmental performance during the operational phase. Objective: This study aims to identify the energy, water, and material efficiency measures implemented at RSUD dr. Soeratno Gemolong, Sragen, and to evaluate the level of efficiency achieved based on EDGE (Excellence in Design for Greater Efficiencies) standards. Methods: The research employed an applied evaluative approach by collecting primary and secondary data through direct observation, interviews, documentation review (as-built drawings and material data), and literature review. The collected data were analyzed using the EDGE application and compared with EDGE benchmarks and relevant Indonesian regulations. Findings: The results indicate that baseline energy efficiency was 19.85%, slightly below the EDGE minimum requirement of 20%, but increased to 24.09% after targeted improvements such as reducing building envelope air infiltration and improving cooling system efficiency. Water efficiency reached 25.75%, and material efficiency achieved 34%, both exceeding the EDGE minimum standard. Implications: These findings demonstrate that EDGE-based evaluation can support maintenance-driven optimization strategies in hospital buildings and provide practical guidance for facility managers and policymakers in prioritizing high-impact efficiency interventions. Originality/Value: This study provides an integrated empirical assessment of energy, water, and material efficiency (EEM, WEM, MEM) in an operational public hospital, showing how targeted improvements can shift energy performance from near-compliance to compliant status within the EDGE framework.

Urbanisation and climate change are intensifying heat risks in cities worldwide through the combined effects of global warming and the urban heat island (UHI) phenomenon. Elevated urban temperatures threaten human health, strain infrastructure, increase energy demand and exacerbate socio-spatial inequalities. While architectural and urban design decisions are central to the formation and mitigation of UHI, moving from UHI mitigation to heat-resilient cities requires linking physical interventions with governance capacity, equity, and adaptive learning over time. This paper, therefore, develops a conceptual framework for resilient and sustainable urban environments that embeds built-environment strategies within a broader resilience-oriented governance context. The study combines a narrative review of UHI mechanisms, impacts and mitigation approaches with a systematic review of local-government strategies implemented between 2015 and 2025. Following preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA) guidelines and a population, intervention, comparison, and outcome (PICO)-based search strategy, 100 studies were selected from Scopus and Web of Science and analysed thematically. The review identifies four main domains of local action: green infrastructure; cool and permeable materials; water-based and blue–green infrastructure; and policy, governance and technology. Within these domains, the paper highlights architectural and design-relevant interventions, including shade-oriented streetscapes, climate-responsive building envelopes, ventilation-sensitive urban form, and blue–green corridors, while also examining institutional, financial and social factors that shape implementation and effectiveness. The findings show that combinations of green infrastructure, cool materials and blue–green systems can reduce surface and near-surface air temperatures and improve thermal comfort, with co-benefits for public health, energy efficiency, biodiversity and liveability. However, implementation is frequently constrained by limited financial and technical capacity, fragmented institutions, context-specific trade-offs, and insufficient attention to equity. Building on these insights, the paper proposes a conceptual framework comprising ten components that connect context and drivers; assessment and diagnosis; intervention strategies; implementation mechanisms; enablers; barriers; equity operationalisation; outcomes and effectiveness; monitoring and evaluation; and feedback and iteration. The paper concludes that advancing from urban heat islands to resilient cities requires design innovation supported by enabling governance, equity-centred prioritisation, and iterative monitoring and learning.

This paper quantifies uncertainty and identifies the key drivers of simulated energy use in a representative archetype of the Hungarian residential building stock. It specifically examines the impact of standardized occupancy inputs compared to those based on surveys and stochastic methods. A DesignBuilder model of a typical detached house is parameterized using data from Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) that detail the building's envelope and system characteristics. Additionally, occupant-related parameters such as setpoints, ventilation, domestic hot water (DHW), and internal gains are derived from a comprehensive national survey and relevant literature. To analyze uncertainty propagation and conduct a global sensitivity analysis, Latin Hypercube Sampling is applied across multiple scenarios: a typical meteorological year, two actual years, and a future climate-change scenario, with and without space cooling. Furthermore, an alternative scenario using a 2050 primary energy conversion factor is evaluated. The results indicate that the heating setpoint temperature is consistently the most influential factor for EPBD-based primary energy usage. Other significant contributors, depending on weather conditions and cooling assumptions, include ventilation rates, heating system efficiency, and parameters related to domestic hot water. Overheating hours are primarily affected by factors such as night ventilation, shading, and internal gains. The findings reveal that using standardized assumptions for occupancy can skew both heating and cooling outcomes. Additionally, assumptions regarding climate and primary energy factors can alter the relative significance of key parameters. The proposed workflow enhances the robustness of building-stock assessments and underscores the value of improving input data quality.

Purpose The aims of this study are as follows: Analyzing the various categories of building walls and façades with respect to material composition, functionality and suitability for diverse climatic conditions across Iran. Analyzing the codes and standards requirements governing building wall and façade systems. Developing wall and façade systems evaluation criteria and determining their importance weights. Comprehensive assessment and ranking of wall and façade systems utilizing established evaluation criteria. Developing a software framework aimed at facilitating decision-making processes and identifying the most suitable façade and wall system, allowing users to implement minor modifications according to their individual preferences. Design/methodology/approach The methodology involves a multi-stage process. Firstly, a comprehensive literature review and expert consultation are conducted to identify key performance parameters for wall and façade systems. Next, the study utilizes a weighting method to determine the importance weight of each criteria. The final step involves applying the weighted criteria to a series of widely recognized types of wall and façade systems and materials, showcasing the framework’s effectiveness in evaluating most optimal wall and façade systems and their design combinations. Findings The comprehensive evaluation of wall systems identified the top-performing materials as: AAC wall panel, AAC block, prefabricated wall Sandwich panel, Wallcrete panel and LECA block. Additionally, an analysis of the performance of these systems under different climatic conditions was carried out, leading to the creation of three separate tables that illustrate the rankings for each specific climate. The evaluation of façade systems revealed that the precast concrete façade, stone façade (utilizing indirect fixing), Glass Fiber Reinforced Concrete (GFRC) façade, Terracotta Cladding (also employing indirect fixing) and Stucco façade received the highest overall scores. Originality/value This research aimed to determine and formalize the evaluation criteria for the optimal selection of buildings envelope systems for residential constructions in Iran, implementing a novel methodology that has not reported.