Topic: Sustainability and Building Energy Efficiency Research for A Low-Carbon City's Future

Building energy efficiency and decarbonization are regarded as key points for mitigating global climate change. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), building-related greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions accounted for 21% of global GHG emissions in 2019. With the urbanization process and population growth, especially in developing countries, the final energy demand and carbon emissions are likely to increase steadily. Therefore, it is urgent to promote a clean transition to achieve sustainable and low-carbon buildings.

However, improving building energy efficiency and achieving decarbonization face many challenges, requiring interdisciplinary solutions from engineering and social sciences. Technically, this involves promoting passive building design, electrification, and high-efficiency electrical equipment (e.g., LEDs, heat pumps, and thermal and ice storage technologies), as well as digital and intelligent management systems, and onsite utilization of renewable energy (e.g., photovoltaic, solar thermal, and geothermal energy). Regarding market policies and occupants’ behaviors, it is essential to establish a reasonable energy pricing mechanism (e.g., tiered electricity pricing and demand response), low-carbon technology subsidy mechanisms (such as energy retrofits for existing buildings and high-efficiency equipment), and energy performance contracting. These strategies will require advanced modeling, policy, and financing approaches.

Therefore, this Special Issue primarily focuses on the challenges and obstacles to enhancing building energy efficiency and decarbonization, including but not limited to the following:

● Building energy efficiency and decarbonization pathways and policies.

● Financial mechanisms for promoting building energy efficacy techniques;

● Advanced and typical cases of building energy efficiency;

● Building electrification and onsite utilization of renewable energy;

● Green and low-carbon building design;

● Life Cycle Assessment of green buildings;

● Technology and Evaluation Method of green building and building retrofitting.