Sustainable Built Environment and Its Circular Economy
A special issue of Energies (ISSN 1996-1073). This special issue belongs to the section "G: Energy and Buildings".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 6 January 2025 | Viewed by 3785
Special Issue Editors
Interests: retrofit of building stock; building pathology; green envelope; traditional building technologies
Interests: natural building materials; innovation in construction technologies; retrofit of existing building heritage; durability of materials and building components; sustainable architecture; self-building
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Interests: buildings energy analysis; environmental thermo-fluid dynamics; natural and artificial lighting; environmental and building acoustics; solar energy; heat transfer; energy saving; renewable energy
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
transitioning to a circular economy is one of the EU’s ambitions, by abandoning the linear take-make-waste economy. Studies show that the circular economy can contribute towards tackling the remaining 45% of greenhouse gas emissions (an estimated reduction of 2 to 4%) that cannot be resolved by transitioning to renewable energy alone. The EU has announced significant investments to reach recycling targets (up to 65% of municipal waste and 70% of packaging by 2035). The principles of the circular economy are also present in Goals 11 and 12 of the 2030 Agenda. They can be well applied in the construction industry, which combines a large consumption of natural raw materials with a high production of CDW (Construction and Demolition Waste). The CDW can be reused by adopting responsible manufacturing/production options, along with the reuse and recycling of the wastes to be incorporated into the system.
Other studies are oriented to the use of bio-based materials because, if produced through a properly controlled and optimised supply chain, these products are non-polluting, reusable, recyclable, and allow the design of solutions with low environmental impact and economic sustainability ensuring, at the same time, satisfactory energy performance and environmental comfort.
By rethinking the way we design our built environment, and using new technologies and processes, we can realise more value from existing assets, keep resources and building materials in the economy, and stop them from becoming waste.
This increased level of ambition requires activity in all sectors and, among all, in R&I.
The Guest Editors are inviting submissions for a Special Issue that addresses technologies and materials for a more sustainable built environment, according to the principles of the circular economy.
In particular, we are seeking original papers that include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Green transition of the construction industry;
- Environmental sustainability and building design;
- Re-use strategy for circular economy and building sustainability;
- Design and characterisation of innovative bio-based, earth-based, recycled, and waste-based building materials;
- Solid waste recycling and management;
- Green energy, resources and material for sustainable and resilient development;
- Renewable energy technologies, applications and integration;
- Design for disassembling;
- Life cycle sustainability assessment of building materials and technologies;
- Innovative technologies for low-energy buildings;
- Use of nature-based solutions as a strategy for improving sustainability in the built environment;
- Built environment decarbonization;
- Sustainability innovations for resource and energy efficiency.
The research presented in this Special Issue could be in line with the European Green Deal program, providing an attractive alternative approach to the decarbonization process of Europe.
Prof. Dr. Alessandro Lo Faro
Dr. Rosa Giuseppina Caponetto
Dr. Francesco Nocera
Guest Editors
Manuscript Submission Information
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Keywords
- green construction process
- eco - friendly material
- circular economy
- life cycle assessment of building materials
- recycled and recyclable material
- decarbonization
- energy efficiency
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