Buildings account for nearly 40% of energy-related greenhouse gas emissions globally. The world cannot solve the climate crisis without reducing and greening energy in buildings, and successful efforts to accelerate building energy efficiency and flexibility would be one technical solution to achieving carbon neutrality. Energy-efficient buildings provide a suitable living environment with minimal energy consumption and energy waste, thereby maximizing energy savings. Energy-flexible buildings can manage their demand and generation capacity according to local climatic conditions, user needs and grid requirements. These buildings will allow for demand-side management/load control and thus demand response according to the requirements of the surrounding grid. Therefore, improving efficiency and flexibility is becoming important and urgent for contributing to carbon neutrality in the building sector.This Research Topic aims to publish the findings of pioneering studies that discuss technical and social challenges, and environmental and economic benefits, and to explore the possibilities for energy-efficient and energy-flexible buildings in a carbon-neutral context. This collection will identify key roles and potentials of technical solutions and pressing challenges in upscaling energy efficiency and flexibility measures in buildings. We also aim to share the experiences, opportunities, and challenges faced across different levels of government in decarbonizing buildings and discuss the policy implications and new trends in energy-efficient and energy-flexible buildings.This Research Topic accepts original research articles and review papers on themes including, but not limited to:• Aggregated energy flexibility of buildings and the potential effect on energy grids• Building performance evaluation based on monitored and measured data• Energy efficiency based on a demand-controlled indoor environment• Energy flexibility and demand response in buildings• Data-driven modeling• Smart control and optimization of building energy systems• Performance provisions and pathways and strategies for carbon emissions reduction in buildings• Policies and technologies for better matching peaks and troughs of renewable energy supply
Buildings account for nearly 40% of energy-related greenhouse gas emissions globally. The world cannot solve the climate crisis without reducing and greening energy in buildings, and successful efforts to accelerate building energy efficiency and flexibility would be one technical solution to achieving carbon neutrality. Energy-efficient buildings provide a suitable living environment with minimal energy consumption and energy waste, thereby maximizing energy savings. Energy-flexible buildings can manage their demand and generation capacity according to local climatic conditions, user needs and grid requirements. These buildings will allow for demand-side management/load control and thus demand response according to the requirements of the surrounding grid. Therefore, improving efficiency and flexibility is becoming important and urgent for contributing to carbon neutrality in the building sector.This Research Topic aims to publish the findings of pioneering studies that discuss technical and social challenges, and environmental and economic benefits, and to explore the possibilities for energy-efficient and energy-flexible buildings in a carbon-neutral context. This collection will identify key roles and potentials of technical solutions and pressing challenges in upscaling energy efficiency and flexibility measures in buildings. We also aim to share the experiences, opportunities, and challenges faced across different levels of government in decarbonizing buildings and discuss the policy implications and new trends in energy-efficient and energy-flexible buildings.This Research Topic accepts original research articles and review papers on themes including, but not limited to:• Aggregated energy flexibility of buildings and the potential effect on energy grids• Building performance evaluation based on monitored and measured data• Energy efficiency based on a demand-controlled indoor environment• Energy flexibility and demand response in buildings• Data-driven modeling• Smart control and optimization of building energy systems• Performance provisions and pathways and strategies for carbon emissions reduction in buildings• Policies and technologies for better matching peaks and troughs of renewable energy supply