Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
4.5
2.7
Journals
Applied Sciences
Special Issues
Recent Advances in Energy Efficiency of Buildings
share announcement

Recent Advances in Energy Efficiency of Buildings

A special issue of Applied Sciences (ISSN 2076-3417). This special issue belongs to the section "Environmental Sciences".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (25 January 2022) | Viewed by 18835

Printed Edition Available!
A printed edition of this Special Issue is available here.

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Montserrat Zamorano

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Civil Engineering, University of Granada, 18071 Granada, Spain
Interests: topics related with Sustainable Development Goals, in particular, sustainable cities and communities (sustainable buildings construction) and responsible consumption and production (waste management according to circular economy principles)
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Buildings are important consumers in energy consumption; in fact, they represent 30–45% of global energy use. In this context, a correct design and execution of a building, as well as the adequate use of its energy sources, are necessary to reduce energy demand and operating costs, as well as to reduce emission of greenhouse gases along the life cycle of buildings. In consequence, at this time, important efforts are focused on the design of energy efficient buildings, in accordance with the circular economy policies.

The Open Access journal Applied Sciences (ISSN 2076-3417; CiteScore 2.458; IF 2.474) is currently running an important Special Issue titled “Recent Advances in Energy Efficiency of Buildings”. This Special Issue is devoted to publishing papers that analyze the most significant and cutting-edge research in solutions that contribute to energy efficiency in buildings, for example: new construction materials, design of high-performance building envelopes, development of model for energy conservation in building design, or advances in sustainable heating and cooling system, among others.

I cordially invite you to submit a paper to this Special Issue. This could be a full review or an original research article on distribution network. Your paper will be highly advertised and circulated. Everyone will be able to easily access and read this paper, as it will be freely available online.

Could you please let us know whether you would like to accept our invitation? We will be honored if you are able to participate.

Keywords

  • sustainable building
  • energy efficiency
  • buildings
  • energy consumption

Published Papers (7 papers)

Download All Papers
Order results
Result details
Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Editorial

Jump to: Research, Review

3 pages, 192 KiB  
Editorial
Special Issue: Recent Advances in Energy Efficiency of Buildings
by Montserrat Zamorano
Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(13), 6669; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/app12136669 - 01 Jul 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 866
Abstract
Buildings are important consumers of energy; in fact, they represent 30–45% of global energy use and one-third of total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions [...] Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Energy Efficiency of Buildings)

Research

Jump to: Editorial, Review

18 pages, 23809 KiB  
Article
Light Reflectance Characterization of Waste Glass Coating for Tiles
by Chaimae Mourou, María Martín-Morales, Montserrat Zamorano and Diego P. Ruiz
Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(3), 1537; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/app12031537 - 31 Jan 2022
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2429
Abstract
Glass wastes that come from recycling plants do not often find a proper use, thus, they are discarded. In order to find future uses for these wastes, this paper explores the characterization of waste glasses (WGs) as a raw material through the assessment [...] Read more.
Glass wastes that come from recycling plants do not often find a proper use, thus, they are discarded. In order to find future uses for these wastes, this paper explores the characterization of waste glasses (WGs) as a raw material through the assessment of their light reflectance if they were used for external coatings in building materials. To this aim, in this research, several clay-tile specimens were fabricated and coated with three different compositions of waste glass. For these specimens, three variables were analyzed to serve for this WG-based coating characterization: thickness of WG coating, temperature, and holding time of burning. The resulting WG-coated tiles were assessed in terms of the light spectral reflectance and whiteness index, with the help of a fiber optic spectrometer. Results show that the composition of WG had a very significant influence on the light spectral reflectance and the degree of whiteness, with holding time and WG thickness being the most influential depending on the WG type. The temperature of burning was also shown to be critical for the densification process. Finally, an interpretation of these results based on the WG chemical composition coatings obtained by XRF is discussed in this paper. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Energy Efficiency of Buildings)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

21 pages, 1888 KiB  
Article
Bridging Green Gaps: The Buying Intention of Energy Efficient Home Appliances and Moderation of Green Self-Identity
by Ya Li, Abu Bakkar Siddik, Mohammad Masukujjaman and Xiujian Wei
Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(21), 9878; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/app11219878 - 22 Oct 2021
Cited by 14 | Viewed by 3164
Abstract
This study investigates the factors influencing the buying intention of energy-efficient home appliances in Bangladesh. It also develops a conceptual framework that integrates additional constructs with the theory of planned behavior (TPB) and borrows questions from past literature. Employing a convenience sampling technique, [...] Read more.
This study investigates the factors influencing the buying intention of energy-efficient home appliances in Bangladesh. It also develops a conceptual framework that integrates additional constructs with the theory of planned behavior (TPB) and borrows questions from past literature. Employing a convenience sampling technique, a total of 365 completed structured questionnaires were gathered from various super shops in Dhaka, Bangladesh. The structural equation modeling (SEM) technique was thereafter used to analyze the data with the AMOS 21. The study established that environmental knowledge, attitude, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control significantly affected the consumers’ buying intention of energy-efficient home appliances (EEHA). The result revealed a significant relationship between environmental concern, environmental knowledge, subjective norms, eco-labeling, and attitude towards buying. It also confirmed that the green self-identity moderates the existent relationship between the attitude and buying intention of energy-efficient home appliances, while environmental knowledge does not. The research advances numerous policy suggestions to managers or marketers, as well as future research directions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Energy Efficiency of Buildings)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

11 pages, 2862 KiB  
Article
The Reuse of Industrial By-Products for the Synthesis of Innovative Porous Materials, with the Aim to Improve Urban Air Quality
by Antonella Cornelio, Alessandra Zanoletti, Roberto Braga, Laura Eleonora Depero and Elza Bontempi
Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(15), 6798; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/app11156798 - 23 Jul 2021
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1991
Abstract
This works concerns the characterization and the evaluation of adsorption capability of innovative porous materials synthesized by using alginates and different industrial by-products: silica fume and bottom ash. Hydrogen peroxide was used as pore former to generate a porosity able to trap particulate [...] Read more.
This works concerns the characterization and the evaluation of adsorption capability of innovative porous materials synthesized by using alginates and different industrial by-products: silica fume and bottom ash. Hydrogen peroxide was used as pore former to generate a porosity able to trap particulate matter (PM). These new materials are compared with the reference recently proposed porous SUNSPACE hybrid material, which was obtained in a similar process, by using silica fume. Structural, morphological, colorimetric and porosimetric analyses were performed to evaluate the differences between the obtained SUNSPACE typologies. The sustainability of the proposed materials was evaluated in terms of the Embodied Energy and Carbon Footprint to quantify the benefits of industrial by-products reuse. Adsorption tests were also performed to compare the ability of samples to trap PM. For this aim, titania suspension, with particles size about 300 nm, was used to simulate PM in the nanoparticle range. The results show that the material realized with bottom ash has the best performance. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Energy Efficiency of Buildings)
►▼ Show Figures

Graphical abstract

22 pages, 7393 KiB  
Article
Dynamics of Changes in Climate Zones and Building Energy Demand. A Case Study in Spain
by Carmen Díaz-López, Joaquín Jódar, Konstantin Verichev, Miguel Luis Rodríguez, Manuel Carpio and Montserrat Zamorano
Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(9), 4261; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/app11094261 - 08 May 2021
Cited by 18 | Viewed by 2418
Abstract
In the current context of the climate crisis, it is essential to design buildings that can cope with climate dynamics throughout their life cycle. It will ensure the development of sustainable and resilient building stock. Thus, this study’s primary objective has been to [...] Read more.
In the current context of the climate crisis, it is essential to design buildings that can cope with climate dynamics throughout their life cycle. It will ensure the development of sustainable and resilient building stock. Thus, this study’s primary objective has been to demonstrate that the current climatic zones for buildings in peninsular Spain do not represent the current climatic reality and are not adapted to climate change and the impact on the energy demand of buildings. For this reason, the climatic zones of 7967 peninsular cities have been updated and adapted to the RCP 4.5 and RCP 8.5 scenarios by using the data measured in 77 meteorological reference stations. The results obtained have shown that in more than 80% of the cities, buildings are designed and constructed according to an obsolete climatic classification that does not take into account the current or future climatic reality, which will significantly affect the thermal performance of a building and highlights the need to review the climatic zoning in the country. The results obtained can be extrapolated to other regions. The methodology defined in this work can be used as a reference, thus making an essential scientific contribution in reflecting on current capacities and the possibilities of improving the building stock. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Energy Efficiency of Buildings)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

34 pages, 23178 KiB  
Article
Analysis of Climate-Oriented Researches in Building
by Konstantin Verichev, Montserrat Zamorano, Cristian Salazar-Concha and Manuel Carpio
Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(7), 3251; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/app11073251 - 05 Apr 2021
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 3016
Abstract
Many factors and aspects of the construction and operation of buildings depend on climatic parameters and climatic zones, so these will be fundamental for adapting and mitigating the effects of climate change. For this reason, the number of climate-oriented publications in building is [...] Read more.
Many factors and aspects of the construction and operation of buildings depend on climatic parameters and climatic zones, so these will be fundamental for adapting and mitigating the effects of climate change. For this reason, the number of climate-oriented publications in building is increasing. This research presents an analysis on the most-cited climate-oriented studies in building in the period 1979–2019. The main themes, the typologies of these investigations and the principal types of climatic zoning used in these studies were analysed through bibliographic and manual analysis. A broad spectrum of themes directly and indirectly related to climate and climatic zones and buildings was demonstrated. It was found that 88% of all climate-oriented investigations, to one degree or another, are within the scope of the general topic of energy conservation. A thorough understanding of all climate-dependent aspects will help in designing dwellings appropriately in different climate zones. In addition, a methodology that facilitates the establishment of a typology of climate-oriented research is presented. This typology can be used in future research in different scientific areas. It was also revealed that the climate zones of the National Building Codes of China, the USA and Turkey prevailed in the studies analysed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Energy Efficiency of Buildings)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Review

Jump to: Editorial, Research

24 pages, 3357 KiB  
Review
Cool Surface Strategies with an Emphasis on the Materials Dimension: A Review
by Chaimae Mourou, Montserrat Zamorano, Diego P. Ruiz and María Martín-Morales
Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(4), 1893; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/app12041893 - 11 Feb 2022
Cited by 12 | Viewed by 3877
Abstract
The need to tackle the urban heat island effect demands the implementation of cool surfaces as a mitigation strategy. This study comprehensively reviews the evolution of this research field from a materials perspective. It provides a bibliometric analysis of the relevant literature using [...] Read more.
The need to tackle the urban heat island effect demands the implementation of cool surfaces as a mitigation strategy. This study comprehensively reviews the evolution of this research field from a materials perspective. It provides a bibliometric analysis of the relevant literature using the SciMAT software processing of bibliographic records from 1995 to 2020, for the evolution of cool surfaces. The results obtained show an increased interest in the field from 2011 to 2020, particularly for roof applications, and present the scientific evolution of reflective materials. According to the materials dimension adopted by the development of the research field, the study is refined from a bibliometric analysis of 982 selected records for the analysis of five themes: (i) Pigments; (ii) Phase change materials; (iii) Retroreflective materials; (iv) Ceramic materials; and (v) Glass. These materials present promising results in terms of their solar reflectance performances in the mitigation of the urban heat island phenomenon. At the end of this review, recommendations for future studies are provided for the creation of economic and environmentally friendly materials based on waste glass recycling. This study represents a valuable contribution that provides a scientific background with regard to cool surfaces from a materials perspective for future investigations. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Energy Efficiency of Buildings)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:
 
Displaying articles 1-7
Back to TopTop