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Microbial-induced calcite precipitation (MICP), which leverages ureolytic microorganisms, has received significant attention during the past decade as a promising method for sustainable building and geoenvironmental applications. However, transitioning from lab-scale experimentation to volumes suitable for practical use poses challenges. This study addresses these obstacles by screening and analyzing over 50 strains sourced from (i) a natural environment in the canton of Ticino in Switzerland; (ii) microorganism banks; and (iii) an industry-scale bioreactor. Several ureolytic Sporosarcina species have been identified in the natural environment, and their ureolytic potential has been compared with that of other strains. A reference, banked microorganism yielded the highest ureolysis rate. When this latter strain was inoculated in 900 L batches and continuously cultivated at 5400 L, no contamination issues were observed, and the reference strain remained the dominant species. The produced culture, obtained under an optimized medium composition involving the circular valorization of NH4+, was subsequently used to induce the biocementation of a 650 kg column of 0–1 mm sand. The results reveal the successful stabilization of the whole mass, with undrained Tresca strength values ranging from 90 to 140 kPa. This research lays the groundwork for scalable MICP production, which is capable of meeting the demands of real-world building and geoenvironmental projects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Green building (GB) projects in the Middle East face several causes of waste that occur during design and construction stages. These causes affect the objectives of GB projects (economic, environmental, and social). Therefore, this research aims to define causes of waste in GB projects and evaluate the effect of these causes on the objectives of GB projects. Forty-five causes of waste are determined and classified into five main groups as follows: (G01) green materials, (G02) green building design, (G03) sustainable site, (G04) green building technologies, and (G05) green building stakeholders. Through field surveys, including semi-structured interviews and brainstorming sessions, the probability of occurrence for each cause of waste and impact on the economic, environmental, and social objectives are evaluated, as well as the waste severity is determined based on a combined effect of probability and impacts. The correlations among the waste indices are assessed, and the highest correlation is observed between probability and economic followed by economic and social objective. The results show that the most significant cause of waste that has the highest value for economic, environmental, and social objectives is "Poor assessment of site conditions before design, such as topography, hydrology, climate, vegetation, and soil." Group 05 has the maximum number of critical causes of waste, which is considered the most significant group, due to its high values related to all objectives. Results indicate that the economic objective is classified as the most affected one by the causes of waste, followed by the environmental objective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Energy consumption is a global problem facing the world. According to the latest studies, and there is a great opportunity of reduction of the carbon dioxide emissions by re-considering the existing non-residential buildings, such as educational, commercial, and administrative facilities. This study investigates the concepts of sustainable retrofitting of existing university buildings. A framework for sustainable retrofitting of university buildings is developed. The framework illustrates the workflow including the different phases of retrofitting, and the possible choices for optimizing energy consumption within the different systems of university buildings. Thus, reaching a step towards green buildings by working on the existing built environment, not only new construction projects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rapid expansion of photovoltaic (PV) technology as a source of renewable energy has resulted in a significant increase in PV panel waste, creating environmental and economic challenges. A promising strategy to address these challenges is the reuse of glass waste from decommissioned PV panels as a component of cementitious materials. This review explores the potential of integrating glass waste from PV panels into cementitious materials, focusing on its impact on their mechanical, thermal, and durability properties. This analysis includes various methods of processing PV glass waste, such as crushing and grinding, to obtain the desired particle size for cementitious applications. It goes on to analyze how advances in cementitious materials can facilitate the incorporation of PV glass waste, helping to improve properties such as compressive strength, workability, and setting time. In addition, this review makes a detailed analysis of the long-term sustainability and environmental benefits of PV glass waste, highlighting its potential to reduce the carbon footprint of cementitious materials. Incorporating PV glass waste can improve certain properties of cementitious materials, resulting in increased durability and improved thermal insulation, while contributing to waste reduction and resource conservation. This review highlights the importance of developing standardized recycling methods and integration processes and identifies areas for further research to optimize the use of PV glass waste in cement formulations. Ultimately, the sustainable integration of PV glass panel waste into cementitious materials is a viable approach to promote green building practices and support a circular economy in the construction industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The construction industry contributes to global waste through its "take-make-dispose" model. In response, the European Commission has developed Action Plans to promote a Circular Economy (CE). However, there is currently no standardised Circularity Indicator (CI). The main barrier thereof is the lack of consensus on assessment criteria, stemming from the dispersity of advancements among the methodologies available. The CARES Framework (CARES-F) has been designed to address this issue by integrating ISO standards, Level(s), and Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) criteria into the traditional MCI framework. This innovative framework also introduces further variables from the CE perspective, such as transport impact, biomaterials, and quantitative Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for Design for Disassembly (DfD) and Design for Adaptability (DfA). The validation is carried out on a typical Spanish residential building structure by applying the CARES-F and two micro-CIs based on the MCI. The results exhibit the low circularity of resource-intensive systems and highlight the need for secondary raw material in flow, as well as DfA criteria. These findings underscore the significance of the introduced quantitative KPIs in the CIs accuracy and demonstrate the feasibility of the CARES-F in the identification of circularity gaps and selection of optimal circular design strategies from early project stages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The building and construction sector remains largely climate-unfriendly as a significant global greenhouse gas emitter. Public buildings can play a significant role in promoting sustainability practices. Unlike developed countries that have successfully promoted sustainable building practices, developing countries have experienced slow progress in implementing sustainable practices in public buildings. This research study investigated the challenges and opportunities for improving sustainability practices in public buildings from a multi-stakeholder perspective within the context of developing countries. Using Indonesian public buildings as a case study, a wide range of stakeholders directly involved in the public building sector such as policy-makers, building owners, building professionals, and building users were interviewed over two time periods of 2019 and 2023. The interview results show consistent findings on challenges and possible opportunities with respect to regulation, occupant behavior, and the primacy of technical intervention in the practice of sustainable buildings. Despite the importance of strong policy and the role of technology in sustainability practices in public buildings, this study advocates the need for greater intervention in occupant behavior so that sustainable practices in public buildings can be continuously promoted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vertical Greenery Systems, also known as Green Walls have emerged as essential components of Green Infrastructure, offering promising outcomes for both the present and the distant future. This study aimed to establish correlations between orientation and the thermal performance of green walls. The research was conducted in a controlled climatic environment, featuring a bare wall as the control experiment and green walls with four different plant species, including Xiphidium caeruleum, Asparagus aethiopicus, Ophiopogon japonicas, and Dianella ensifolia variegate. The growth medium consisted of a consistent 1:1:1 ratio of coir dust, sand, and compost for all plant species. Data collection, which spanned from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., included parameters: surface temperature, ambient temperature, relative humidity, and wind speed for the green wall's exterior and interior. The results of the study demonstrated that east-oriented green walls, particularly those featuring Asparagus aethiopicus, achieved significant influence on building energy conservation, with a maximum temperature reduction of 4.1 °C in both interior and exterior surface temperatures compared to the bare wall. The findings highlight the potential of optimally oriented green walls to reduce cooling energy consumption in buildings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The building sector has contributed to reducing carbon emissions and energy consumption by implementing green buildings in the last decade. Green building performance evaluation studies can be evidence to the community about the advantages of implementing sustainability concepts in the building sector, such as through Post Occupancy Evaluation (POE). Several POE studies have been conducted to measure building performance. Nevertheless, only a few literature studies about POE specifically for Green Building. Thus, this study aims to conduct a review about POE in green buildings literature, to 1) identify the prominent institutions, countries, publishers, authors, and keywords of this topic; 2) identify the gaps in building types, and green building standards of this research topic; 3) identify green building standards, building types, countries, POE purposes, indicators, and analysis methods used of selected articles. This article's method uses bibliometric and scientometric analysis using VOSviewer, a database set from Scopus. The data uses 116 articles, 249 institutions, 27 countries, 48 sources, 326 authors, and 897 keywords related to POE studies in green buildings. The findings from this research will be useful for practitioners interested in improving the quality of green building standards. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper delves into the concept of eco-structure construction, particularly in India's rapidly growing population and urbanisation. It addresses the substantial energy consumption of buildings, which accounts for up to forty per cent of total energy usage, emphasizing the urgency to create sustainable environments. The study explores sustainable building practices, focusing on resource efficiency, waste reduction, and improved living conditions. It discusses the benefits of sustainable architecture, including improved indoor environment quality, water conservation, enhanced health outcomes, and reduced strain on shared resources. Additionally, the paper outlines the scope of environmental sustainability and the components of sustainable and green building design, highlighting the holistic approach required for effective environmental conservation and human well-being. Also, this research advocates for a paradigm shift towards eco-friendly building materials and methods to create a healthier and more sustainable future. Low-carbon and recycled materials: Using recycled aggregates, fly ash, and low-carbon concrete reduces greenhouse emissions and enhances durability in residential buildings. Biodegradable and bio-based materials: Materials like bamboo, hemp Crete, and mycelium offer renewable, biodegradable options with strong insulation properties, suitable for non-load-bearing applications. Energy-efficient insulation: Phase Change Materials (PCMs) and Insulating Concrete Forms (ICFs) provide superior thermal comfort, reducing energy needs for heating and cooling. Locally sourced and earth-based materials: Region-specific materials, like rammed earth and adobe, minimize transport emissions and naturally regulate indoor temperatures. Green roofing and vegetation integration: Green roofs and walls enhance insulation, support biodiversity, and manage stormwater, creating a sustainable urban ecosystem. Lifecycle Assessment (LCA): Lifecycle analysis tools identify low-impact materials, guiding sustainable choices based on overall environmental cost and durability. Innovative materials: Grapheme-enhanced concrete and 3D-printed materials reduce resource use while improving strength, insulation, and waste minimization in residential structures. Major Findings: These findings emphasize a shift toward materials that balance environmental impact with performance in residential construction. Sustainable construction materials focus on reducing carbon emissions, increasing energy efficiency, and ensuring longevity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of existing technologies and the emergence of new technologies aiming at the total decarbonization of the buildings sector by 2050 requires and encourages upskilling and reskilling of existing professionals as well as the development of new subjects from higher education courses to be able to respond to the demands of these challenges. In responding to those challenges, the main objective of the research is to design, implement, and evaluate a novel, integrated, and transnational educational approach aimed at equipping professionals and students in the construction sector with the necessary skills to achieve sustainable and energy-efficient buildings. This study aligns with the European Union's 2050 decarbonization goals by developing innovative methodologies that address the multidisciplinary challenges of sustainable building design, operation, and renovation. The proposed educational approach was developed in the framework of an Erasmus+ project entitled "Training for Sustainable and Healthy Building for 2050 (BUILD2050)". Six higher education institutions from five European countries joined forces to create transversal skills in the building sector knowledge for emerging challenges through an integrated training composed of eight training courses for students and professionals of the construction area. In this work, the pedagogical approach used to develop the course contents, curricular development issues, technology, and infrastructure, as well as student support, the results obtained from the evaluation carried out after the pilot training of the eight training courses, and best practices and lessons learned, are presented and discussed. The courses' learning objectives, the learning material, and the assessment activities were well-accomplished. However, based on the feedback of students and teachers, some improvements for future editions of the courses are required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A clean environment with low carbon emissions is the goal of research on the development of green and sustainable buildings that use bio-sourced materials in conjunction with solar energy to create more sustainable cities. This is particularly true in Africa, where there aren't many studies on the topic. The current study suggests a 90 m2 model of a sustainable building in a dry climate that is movable to address the issue of housing in remote areas, ensures comfort in harsh weather conditions, uses solar renewable resources—which are plentiful in Africa—uses bio-sourced materials, and examines how these materials relate to temperature and humidity control while emitting minimal carbon emissions. In order to solve the topic under consideration, the work is split into two sections: numerical and experimental approaches. Using TRNSYS and Revit, the suggested prototype building is examined numerically to examine the impact of orientation, envelope composition made of bio-sourced materials, and carbon emissions. Through a hygrothermal investigation, experiments are conducted to evaluate this prototype's effectiveness. Furthermore, an examination of the photovoltaic system's production, consumption, and several scenarios used to maximize battery life is included in the paper. Because the biosourced material achieves a thermal transmittance of 0.15 (W.m−2.K−1), the results demonstrate an intriguing finding in terms of comfort. This value satisfies the requirements of passive building, energy autonomy of the dwelling, and injection in-network with an annual value of 15,757 kWh. Additionally, compared to the literature, the heating needs ratio is 6.38 (kWh/m2.an) and the cooling needs ratio is 49 (kWh/m2.an), both of which are good values. According to international norms, the inside temperature doesn't go above 26°C, and the humidity level is within a comfortable range. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Timber is arguably the oldest construction materials that human have used since the dawn of civilization. Since the last few centuries, the invention of concrete and steel materials has limited timber uses to small and medium structural applications. The renaissance of timber construction has been felt recently due to the emergence of engineered massive timber elements that can perform similar structurally to that of concrete. The main objective of this paper is to study feasibility using massive timber element in building to be constructed in the futuristic city LINE-NEOM, Saudi Arabia. The main motivation of this study is the sustainability aspect of timber that can contribute to zero carbon emission for buildings, which will be one of the major environmentally friendly goals for LINE. Literature survey was conducted to demonstrate that timber is promising construction material for future building. A comparative case study of multi-story building constructed using traditional reinforced concrete and massive timber elements was performed. One particular type of massive timber element called Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) was used in this study. Key structural performance of building was compared using applicable design code criteria. Furthermore, carbon emission of buildings constructed with reinforced concrete and CLT was analyzed and compared. The structural analysis and design results indicated that the CLT building was acceptable in term of lateral deformation or drift under critical combination of lateral and gravity loads. The carbon emission comparison showed that CLT building outperformed the reinforced concrete building significantly. As was anticipated, the CLT building stored significant amount of carbon making it an excellent alternative materials for buildings in LINE that has goal to be zero-net carbon's city. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The first choice for the treatment of solid waste is its industrial utilization. Therefore, in the present study, dolomite tailings and granite waste are used as the basic raw materials, along with silicon carbide as a high-temperature foaming agent, to prepare a light-weight, high-closed porosity thermal insulation material. The effects of (i) the chemical compositions of the main raw materials and (ii) the relationship between the sintering process and the properties, microstructure and crystalline phase of the samples are systematically investigated. At the same time, the formation mechanism of high closed porosity of the thermal insulation material is analyzed. The results showed that when sintering temperature, time, and heating rate are 1200 °C, 30 min, and 3 °C/min, respectly, the sample density, compressive strength, true porosity, and closed porosity are 0.7 g/cm3, 6.62 MPa, 74.21 %, and 66.36 %, respectively. In addition, due to the high closed porosity, relative to traditional inorganic thermal insulation materials, the water absorption and thermal conductivity are significantly reduced to as little as 1.5 %, and 0.30 W/(m·K), respectly. This research not only realizes the recovery and utilization of granite waste and dolomite tailings, but also provides a new prospect for energy saving and consumption reduction in the construction industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, the construction industry has faced challenges related to rising material costs, labor shortages and environmental sustainability, resulting in an increased interest in modular construction cores composed of recycled materials, such as XPS, PUR, PLW and GFRP, from waste from the truck body industry. Two resins, PUR and polyester, were used to bond these recycled composites. Physical, chemical and mechanical analyses showed that the panels formed with PUR resin had superior workability due to the higher open time of the resin, 11.3% better thermal conductivity than the commercial PLW panel (SP-PLW) and reduced porosity compared to those using polyester resin. The mechanical performance of the panels improved with higher structural reinforcement content (PLW and GFRP). Compared to a commercial panel (SP-PLW), the SP-RCM1 recycled panel showed 4% higher performance, demonstrating its potential for sustainable building applications. Thermal and microscopic characterizations showed good adhesion of the materials in the best performing formulations related to higher thermal stability. Therefore, this research aims to demonstrate the feasibility of using waste from the car industry in the manufacture of sandwich panels for modular construction to address these issues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines Connected Smart Green Buildings (CSGBs) in Burnaby, BC, Canada, with a focus on townhouses with one to four bedrooms. The proposed model integrates sustainable materials and smart components such as recycled insulation, Photovoltaic (PV) solar panels, smart meters, and high-efficiency systems. These elements improve energy efficiency and promote sustainability. Operating in island mode, CSGBs can function independently of the grid, providing resilience during power outages and reducing reliance on external energy sources. Real data on electricity, gas, and water consumption are used to optimize load management under isolated conditions. Electric Vehicles (EVs) are also considered in the system. They serve as energy storage devices and, through Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) technology, can supply power when needed. A hybrid Machine Learning (ML) model combining Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) and a Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) is proposed to improve the performance. The metrics considered include accuracy, efficiency, emissions, and cost. The performance was compared with several well-known models including Linear Regression (LR), CNN, LSTM, Random Forest (RF), Gradient Boosting (GB), and hybrid LSTM–CNN, and the results show that the proposed model provides the best results. For a four-bedroom Connected Smart Green Townhouse (CSGT), the Mean Absolute Percentage Error (MAPE) is 4.43%, the Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) is 3.49 kWh, the Mean Absolute Error (MAE) is 3.06 kWh, and R 2 is 0.81. These results indicate that the proposed model provides robust load optimization, particularly in island mode, and highlight the potential of CSGBs for sustainable urban living. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To ensure the high-quality development of green buildings, a lot of attention has been paid to the post-evaluation of the actual operational performance of green buildings. Post-evaluation is a method to evaluate the effect of green buildings after putting them into use. It objectively expresses the actual implementation of green technologies, reflects occupants' experience, and scientifically guides the project operation through questionnaires, field visits, data analysis, etc. Since most post-evaluation studies only focus on the overall performance of green buildings, this study carried out a systematic post-evaluation of six typical technologies of green buildings based on more than 50 green cases in China. The overall performance of green buildings mainly considers the energy performance and building satisfaction. The six typical technologies include cold source systems, air conditioning terminal systems, energy-saving lighting technology, air heat recovery, the natural lighting technique, and roof greening technologies. The application form and frequency of each technology are studied by investigation, and the actual effect of each technology is evaluated by practical tests and questionnaires. The results show that although the overall performance of case green buildings, including the energy efficiency and staff satisfaction, can basically meet the standard requirements, the application effect of energy-saving and environmental protection technology is difficult to meet the expectations. The overall performance of green buildings can be further improved by improving the application effect of individual energy-saving and environmental protection technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Translation abstract Life cycle assessment in structural and façade designThe following article describes the implementation of life cycle assessment methods as a design and decision‐making tool in the planning processes of an engineering practice. The application is explained using practical project examples in structural and facade engineering. Specific design scenarios are shown. It is described which design decisions were supported and influenced by corresponding analyses and how they developed during the project. Specific calculation examples serve as a practical illustration and are intended to provide inspiration for structural and facade planners. The current building and planning legal framework is briefly explained in order to evaluate the methods presented in terms of their effect on the ecological footprint of buildings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study is to identify and analyze the application barriers and internal mechanisms of BIM technology in green building projects. It is found that BIM technology can effectively integrate information and optimize management, but its application still faces economic externalities and requires government intervention to promote its development. Through the analysis of five aspects of technology, economy, management, policy and environment, we identified 16 influencing factors and focused on nine key factors, such as insufficient technology maturity and high-cost issues. Research shows that policy and management factors play a fundamental role in BIM adoption and influence economic effectiveness through complex interactions. Based on the ISM-ANP coupling model, we propose that the government should encourage technological innovation and personnel training to promote the effective application of BIM technology in green buildings. This study provides a theoretical reference for the application of BIM and green building on a global scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The building sector is a significant contributor to global energy consumption, necessitating the development of innovative materials to improve energy efficiency and sustainability. Phase change material (PCM)-enhanced concrete offers a promising solution by enhancing thermal energy storage (TES) and reducing energy demands for heating and cooling in buildings. However, challenges related to PCM leakage, mechanical strength reduction, and encapsulation durability hinder widespread adoption. This paper critically reviews the various PCM incorporation techniques and evaluates their impact on thermal performance and structural integrity. Our findings revealed that while PCM integration improves thermal efficiency, it reduces mechanical strength, especially at higher PCM content. To address these challenges, recent work emphasizes advancements in encapsulation technologies and thermal property optimization, focusing on mitigating leakage and enhancing durability. Organic PCM types are favored for concrete applications due to their compatibility, though issues with leakage control and strength retention remain unresolved. Hence, the choice of incorporation technique must balance application requirements, allowable mechanical property reductions, and cost constraints. Moreover, the lack of standardized methods to assess long-term PCM-composite durability highlights a need for further development of PCM encapsulation and integration techniques to optimize thermal and structural performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To mitigate climate change it's of utmost importance to generate, develop, and improve green technologies. Technologies that link civil construction, architecture, and sustainability are largely necessary for this goal. Green roofs constitute technologies with high potential to contribute to the increase of the resilience of cities in the face of climate change. Since this technology is versatile and still requires many studies, we tested three different types of situations and considered three subprojects: 1 – how the arrangement of fiber cement coverings can affect runoff control and water quality, the differences between the temperature in three types of tiles and the spontaneous growth in each of them; 2 – how nasturtiums, once used as cover, influence water quality and thermal comfort; 3 – the viability of seed germination on roofs with substrate. In subproject 1 it was concluded that spontaneous growth did not occur during the experiment period and that the arrangement of the tiles influences the ability to reduce surface runoff. In 2 we observed that the plants require frequent watering, and that nasturtium does not develop abundantly in thin layers of substrate but contributes to thermal comfort inside buildings. There was an average reduction of 6.8% in the temperature values on the substrates in Subproject 2 due to the presence of vegetation, while for the surface temperature, the values were, on average, 11.7% lower for the prototypes with vegetation cover. In subproject 3 we concluded that seed sowing directly on substrate roofs does not present satisfactory results for developing green roofs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Driven by growing demands for environmental protection and sustainable development, green finance has gained increasing attention, evolving from a peripheral topic to a core research area. Research in green finance primarily focuses on financial products, services, and policies, analyzing their impacts on society, markets, and listed companies. Through a systematic literature screening and analysis process, this study reviewed the existing body of literature on green finance, with a particular emphasis on key areas such as green financing, green financial technology, green financial products and derivatives, green building, financial reform and innovation in green finance, and carbon trading markets. Using keywords such as "green finance", "green insurance", "green securities", and "green investment", we identified 15,487 relevant publications from 2014 to 2023 across multiple databases. We then applied Latent Semantic Indexing (LSI) to cluster these documents, identifying core subfields and conducting a detailed bibliometric analysis. Our results reveal a geographic shift in green finance research prominence from the U.S. to China, with a thematic shift from green building and energy efficiency to green bonds and climate finance. Through our analysis, we provide policy recommendations informed by these findings. This study's unique contribution lies in its systematic extension of bibliometric analysis into emerging subfields of green finance, such as green financial technology and carbon trading markets, both of which are becoming increasingly critical. Additionally, this study offers valuable insights into the evolving landscape of green finance research, bridging the gap between academic research and industry practice and providing actionable policy recommendations for stakeholders across different sectors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The construction industry's rapid growth significantly impacts energy consumption and environmental health. It is crucial to develop optimization strategies to enhance green building energy efficiency and encompass comprehensive analysis methods. This study aims to introduce and validate a novel framework for optimizing energy efficiency design in green buildings by integrating Building Information Modeling (BIM) technology, Life Cycle Cost (LCC) analysis, and orthogonal testing methods, focusing on enhancing energy efficiency and reducing life cycle costs. The optimization parameters for the building envelope are identified by analyzing energy consumption components and key green building factors. The orthogonal testing method was applied to streamline design options. Building Energy Consumption Simulation (BECS) software and LCC analysis tools were employed to calculate each optimized option's total annual energy consumption and the current life cycle costs. Using the efficiency coefficient method, each optimization scheme's energy consumption and economic indicators were thoroughly analyzed. The framework's validity and applicability were confirmed through an empirical analysis of a campus green building case in Fujian Province, demonstrating that the optimized framework could reduce energy consumption by 4.85 kWh/m2 per year and lower costs by 38.89 Yuan/m2 compared to the reference building. The case study highlights the framework's significant benefits in enhancing environmental performance and economic gains. The results provide critical parameter selection and offer scientific and technological support for the design of building energy efficiency, promoting optimization techniques and sustainable development within the construction industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The largest influences on a building's cooling and heating load come from heat absorption and loss through building surfaces. Most of the heat gain is absorbed by a structure's roof. Applying insulation to building envelopes is an efficient approach to cut back on heating and cooling energy use as well as the damaging effects of the construction industry on the environment. As a result, it is extremely important to choose the right insulation material and determine the ideal insulation thickness. Eight diverse cities with a range of climatic variables that are spread over several Indian areas (geometric coordinates) are the starting point for this investigation. To overcome the constraints of the various climate typology representing the diverse climatic circumstances present in India, a generic method is proposed, considering the numerous climatic parameters for eight selected Indian locations. The subject of the project is the analysis of a composite insulation layer made from a combination of chosen seven insulating materials, each of which has a unique property. This building roof envelope is examined using ANSYS software and e-Quest building energy modeling. The results of simulations over the course of the whole year show a significant decrease in energy use and CO2 emissions. By altering the thickness of the created envelope, the annual energy need is decreased for each of the seven trials in the range of 30–90%. A decrease in heat flow results in sustainable buildings and a low-carbon future by lowering temperatures by 19 degrees and cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 90% to 96%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Libraries are institutions that provide access to information and support societal development. Today, the functions of libraries extend beyond simply providing access to information and encompass long-term contributions to society within the framework of sustainability. This study, which explores libraries in the context of sustainability, examines the development, significance, and application of green libraries. The study highlights the distinction between the concepts of green buildings and green libraries, within the scope of library science. The research demonstrates that green libraries are more than just buildings and requires a comprehensive approach. Two examples of green libraries are selected and analyzed: one awarded the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) Green Library Award, and the other certified with the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) green building certification. The research employs qualitative methods, including documentary review and observation techniques, to conduct an in-depth literature review and accelerate the process of spatial needs analysis and solution development. The observation process was carried out using a complete observation role. As a result, green libraries require not only new skills and knowledge but also new attitudes. In this context, the research proposes suggestions focused on the components of green libraries to emphasize that they are more than just a building. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With energy resources being fossil fuel-based, increasing energy production has already reached levels that threaten human health. In this situation, the use of alternative energy sources is seen as the only solution. Solar energy is seen as the most promising source among these alternative energies in terms of its potential. Hence, therefore, this study focuses entirely on one of the solar energy sources. This research aims to assess the impact of the design and underground additional heat source (AHS) on the system performance based on the Manzanares pilot plant (MPP), the first on-site practice of solar chimney power plants. Divergent chimney-SCPP with sloping collector (DISCPP) is analysed in the present work. For DISCPP, the influence of the underground AHS in the range of 50–250 °C on the system outputs is examined. The study demonstrates a remarkable enhancement in power output (PO), with the plant generating 51,545 kW under the reference case conditions. The findings signify that when utilising the DISCPP system, the output soars to 247,672 kW under identical climatic conditions. During sunless hours, a PO of 61,956 kW is achieved with the DISCPP at an underground AHS temperature of 50 °C. Moreover, when the source temperature reaches 250 °C during sunless hours, the DISCPP system continues to deliver a significant output of 450 kW. These outcomes underscore the exceptional performance and reliability of the DISCPP system, even under varying conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Buildings consume 10% of global energy and 50% of global electricity for heating and cooling. Transitioning to energy-efficient buildings is essential to address the global energy challenge and meet sustainable development goals (SDGs) to limit global temperature rise below 1.5 ° C . The shift from traditional to smart grids has led to the development of micro, milli, and nanogrids, which share energy resources symbiotically and balance heating/cooling demands dealing with acute doldrums (dunkelflaute). This scoping review explores the methods by which phase change materials (PCMs) can be used in residential buildings to form a nanogrid. This review examines the components and concepts that promote the seamless integration of PCMs in residential houses. It also discusses the key challenges (e.g., scalability, stability, and economic feasibility in high summer temperatures), proposing the community-scale network of nanogrids (NoN) and the potential of thermochromic and photochromic materials. The findings of this review highlight the importance of latent heat storage methods and ingenious grid architectures such as nanogrids to construct resilient and sustainable houses in the future and thereby offer practical insights for policymakers and industries in the energy sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The third decade of this millennium has seen a growing interest in using the circular economy (CE) concept to achieve the broad goals of sustainable development. Still, like the latter, the former notion has different meanings to different audiences in general and in the construction sector in particular. This Brief Report assesses how the construction sector regards the CE concept, or more precisely, how it defines it. We draw on previous research, applying an existing generic framework to the construction sector, dividing the CE into its main components and subcomponents, and quantifying the extent of their acceptance. The main contribution of this work lies in establishing a benchmark for comparison with other industries and across time within the construction industry. We start with an analysis of the available literature and then focus on how the reviewed works perceive the scope of CE, its deployment systems, enablers, and its relationship with sustainable development. Our results confirm that the sector is embracing the linkage of CE to sustainable development while revealing a lesser concern for CE's social and future dimensions. This Brief Report also shows that the understanding of CE actions in terms of a hierarchy is still limited. However, its three main components (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle) are almost universally espoused, while the Recover component is mentioned by just over half of the reviewed works. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conceptual cost estimation is a critical task during the early stages of a construction project, especially for green buildings, which present unique sustainability challenges and design complexities. Traditional methods such as regression analysis are widely used but often rely on experienced estimators and are time-consuming, while Artificial Neural Networks (ANN) offer a modern alternative but are limited by the quality and quantity of available data. This study aims to develop a hybrid model combining regression analysis and ANN to improve the accuracy of conceptual cost estimation for green and conventional highrise buildings in Indonesia. Using data from 22 high-rise building projects (13 conventional and 9 green buildings), the study employed regression analysis, ANN techniques, and a combination of the two, with eight key variables selected for modeling. The hybrid model demonstrated the highest accuracy, achieving a Mean Absolute Percentage Error (MAPE) of 15.09%, within the acceptable range for conceptual cost estimation (+10-30%) as per AACE standards, outperforming standalone regression and ANN models. These findings highlight that integrating regression analysis and ANN provides a robust tool for early-stage cost estimation, supporting sustainable construction practices and informed decision-making. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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This research aims to provide standards for construction, operations, and maintenance activities in the development of IKN Forest City to achieve net zero strategy through level of service. This research was conducted by systematic literature review related to indicators of level of service for buildings in IKN that contribute to Nusantara Net Zero Strategy 2045 and validation through focus group discussion (FGD) process with the experts. Standards or regulations are also identified as reference standards for measuring parameters from each indicator. The results show that level of service related to Nusantara Net Zero Strategy 2045 consists of six criteria and nineteen sub-criteria that can be used for building infrastructures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, the building sector's energy consumption in Morocco has been steadily increasing, highlighting the urgent need for sustainable building practices. Optimizing building parameters and the development of new insulation materials have become critical areas of research due to the significant energy losses associated with traditional insulation materials. Insulation materials can be a simple and cost-effective way to improve building energy efficiency and reduce environmental impact. Unfortunately, not all of these materials exhibit favorable thermal characteristics such as conductivity or heat capacity. Some involve complex production processes, while others are prohibitively expensive or toxic. At this juncture, the strategy of integrating ecological materials with insulation materials to enhance thermal performance holds considerable promise. This paper investigates the impact of the integration of poncebloc and hemp wool in inside temperature and annual consumption of a building construction numerically under a transient simulation program (TRNSYS). The results show that by using these two materials along with double-glazed windows, energy savings ranging from 50-55% can be achieved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents the development and validation of transdisciplinary collaboration (TDC) guidelines for nature-based design (NBD) of sustainable buildings that were used to develop and validate a proposed NBD Overlay of the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) Plan of Work (PoW) 2020. The study first presents the results of consultations with architects on the application of NBD in all stages the RIBA PoW. The development of the proposed NBD Overlay of the RIBA PoW is described, followed by the results of a survey of architects on its contents. Over 80% of the architects in the consultation group confirmed the significance of the proposed NBD Overlay and its relevance in advancing sustainable building practices. The potential of the proposed NBD Overlay to foster tansdisciplinary collaboration and promote NBD approaches, principles, and solutions bodes well for the future of sustainable architecture, driving the industry towards a more resilient and environmentally conscious built environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As people's understanding of sustainable development continues to deepen, green buildings have become the focus of social attention. In a country like China with a large population and limited resources, environmental problems are becoming increasingly serious. To improve this situation, we need to maximize social and economic benefits while protecting the ecological environment. Green buildings must meet the characteristics of the times and consumer needs, considering comfort and sustainability. In order to construct/propose this green building, an internet of things technology model was adopted, and data mining algorithms with comprehensive evaluation methods were used to determine the optimal value and minimum standard deviation. Through comparative analysis, the indoor environment carbon dioxide content designed by this green building model is below 500/ppm, and the volatile compound content is 78 μg/m3, which shows that the indoor air quality of this green building can achieve a more efficient performance. As the renewability, durability and recyclability indexes of green buildings are all above 0.5; the data accuracy of the algorithm is between 0.94 and 0.99, the algorithm robustness is between 0.7 and 0.78, and the running time is 4–5 s. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Energy and resource conservation holds an inimitable significance when sustainability for the present as well as future comes into picture. With the rise of green/low-energy buildings that have reduced energy consumption while in operation, the exploitation of energy-intensive materials has increased and shifted the carbon consequences to other phases of building life cycle. Therefore, embodied energy of buildings has gained significant attention and efforts have been made to quantify and reduce its contribution. This paper reviews the published literature on embodied energy assessment of buildings from the purview of methods, life cycle assessment tools alone and in conjunction with other software tools such as building information modelling. The paper illustrates the progress in the embodied energy assessment till now and highlights the shortcomings in its standardisation due to geographical, methodical, temporal and boundary system differences among others. A great variation is displayed in the expanse of literature upon organising the results reported. The work also suggests future scope in the area of EE assessment and enhanced digitalisation to address the existing ambiguities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sustainable roofing configurations, including green and white roofs, can reduce rooftop surface temperatures compared to conventional surfaces and can therefore enhance photovoltaic (PV) system performance due to the temperature dependence of PV cells. Previous research, primarily experimental, recognized the synergy of combining PV with green or cool roofs. However, the influence of geographic and climatic factors on the performance of these combined systems, particularly in future climates affected by climate change, remains unclear. This work integrates three roof configurations (gravel, green, and white) into rooftop solar energy modeling across thirteen cities with different climate types, under current and future climate scenarios. Results indicate limited efficiency gains (< 2%) across all cities and climates, challenging previous findings. Yield is expected to increase in some cities receiving more solar irradiation in the future but decrease in others due to rising temperatures. Green and cool roofs can partially offset the effects of climate change on yield. PV‐white roofs consistently outperform PV‐green roofs, with the performance gap expected to widen in future climates. PV‐green roofs excel in tropical climates with high irradiation and precipitation levels. Overall, the outcomes of this study inform the design and planning of sustainable buildings in response to climate change challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]