About this Research Topic
Generally, energy usage in buildings is responsible for approximately 45% of carbon dioxide emissions. Buildings are the largest contributor to climate change, and a significant fraction of this energy is consumed to provide comfortable, habitable indoor conditions. The majority of these buildings were constructed against old building standards and will be standing in 2050. Further, there is an international imperative, with the largest-ever international coalition dedicated to attaining net carbon neutrality by 2050. For politicians who are committed to setting high-ambition climate objectives, energy efficiency is a crucial instrument. Energy efficiency has the potential to lower total costs associated with carbon emission mitigation while promoting social and economic advancement, improving energy security and quality of life, and generating employment.
The opportunity that next-generation energy efficiency presents can be fully utilized by governments to push the global climate agenda and achieve net-zero status more quickly. The most crucial phase in the transition to a net-zero-carbon built environment is to redesign the physical environment so that it puts people first and aims to maximize beneficial connections between them at the community level.
Further, fears about climate change and global warming have added urgency to the search for methods not only to improve energy efficiency in buildings but also to take into account the carbon embodied, renewable energy technologies, natural light, biophilic design features, and the social and cultural needs of communities in different contexts.
Considering the importance of the theme “Enhancing energy efficiency and social issues towards net-zero ambitions", Frontiers in Sustainable Cities and Frontiers in Sustainable Energy Policy are dedicating a special issue to bring together manuscripts that focus on methods and energy efficiency strategies to enhance environmental and social sustainability, lower resource consumption, and improve the quality of life for their citizens by adapting existing structures, infrastructure, and systems.
For this special issue on 'Enhancing Energy Efficiency and Social Issues Towards Net-Zero Ambitions' in Frontiers in Sustainable Energy Policy, we are looking for original articles that address the following topics:
• The approach towards improving energy efficiency in buildings;
• The impact of retrofit pathways in the transition to a net-zero carbon-built environment;
• Computer simulation and modelling;
• Case studies of successful real-life scenarios, including those that cover various research methodological approaches with an emphasis on sustainable communities;
• The impact of research on the quality of life and well-being in the urban environment;
Original papers that address other related topics with evidence of contribution to the state of the art are also welcome.
The opportunity that next-generation energy efficiency presents can be fully utilized by governments to push the global climate agenda and achieve net-zero status more quickly. The most crucial phase in the transition to a net-zero-carbon built environment is to redesign the physical environment so that it puts people first and aims to maximize beneficial connections between them at the community level.
Further, fears about climate change and global warming have added urgency to the search for methods not only to improve energy efficiency in buildings but also to take into account the carbon embodied, renewable energy technologies, natural light, biophilic design features, and the social and cultural needs of communities in different contexts.
Considering the importance of the theme “Enhancing energy efficiency and social issues towards net-zero ambitions", Frontiers in Sustainable Cities and Frontiers in Sustainable Energy Policy are dedicating a special issue to bring together manuscripts that focus on methods and energy efficiency strategies to enhance environmental and social sustainability, lower resource consumption, and improve the quality of life for their citizens by adapting existing structures, infrastructure, and systems.
For this special issue on 'Enhancing Energy Efficiency and Social Issues Towards Net-Zero Ambitions' in Frontiers in Sustainable Energy Policy, we are looking for original articles that address the following topics:
• The approach towards improving energy efficiency in buildings;
• The impact of retrofit pathways in the transition to a net-zero carbon-built environment;
• Computer simulation and modelling;
• Case studies of successful real-life scenarios, including those that cover various research methodological approaches with an emphasis on sustainable communities;
• The impact of research on the quality of life and well-being in the urban environment;
Original papers that address other related topics with evidence of contribution to the state of the art are also welcome.
Keywords: Residential Energy, Energy Efficiency, Building Performance, Indoor Climate, Retrofit Strategies, Social Sustainability, Urban Environment
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
