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As the century begins, natural resources are under increasing pressure, threatening public health and development. As a result, the balance between man and nature has been disrupted, with climatic changes whose effects are starting to be irreversible. Due to the relationship between the quality of the indoor built environment and its energy demand, thermal comfort issues are still relevant in the disciplinary debate. This is also because the indoor environment has a potential impact on occupants' health and productivity, affecting their physical and psychological conditions. To achieve a sustainable compromise in terms of comfort and energy requirements, several challenging questions must be answered with regard to design, technical, engineering, psychological, and physiological issues and, finally, potential interactions with other IEQ issues that require a holistic way to conceive the building envelope design. This Special Issue collected original research and review articles on innovative designs, systems, and/or control domains that can enhance thermal comfort, work productivity, and wellbeing in a built environment, along with works considering the integration of human factors in buildings’ energy performance.

History of engineering & technology --- smart broiler chamber --- ventilation system --- wind velocity --- age of air --- computational fluid dynamics --- simulation analysis --- user awareness --- energy consumption --- individual metering --- feedback strategies --- N-ZEB --- IoT --- Trombe wall --- thermal comfort --- passive heating systems --- heat accumulation --- thermal comfort models --- thermal comfort assessment --- Fanger’s models --- moderate environments --- sport facilities --- desert cooler --- evaporative cooling --- indoor air quality --- liquid desiccant --- effectiveness model --- moisture removal --- PMV --- comfort indices --- software --- app --- building simulation --- health and comfort --- evaluation indicators --- work environments --- indoor environmental quality --- indoor comfort --- human health --- clothing thermal insulation --- thermoregulation model --- Tanabe model --- infrared camera --- indoor air quality (IAQ) --- hybrid ventilation --- demand controlled ventilation (DCV) --- internet of things (IoT) --- soft-sensor --- convolution neural networks --- draught --- cooling period --- open office --- thermal sensation --- biological structure and composition --- tissue temperature --- bioheat model --- MRI analysis --- sensitivity analysis

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The Building sector requires a conspicuous considerable amount of energy for services related to annual air-conditioning and the thermal comfort of indoor spaces. The design of highly efficient low-energy buildings is often a challenging task, especially in the mediterranean area, where the balanced requirement for heating and cooling energy does not usually permit a high level of envelope insulation in order to avoid summer overheating. This topical Special Issue of Energies is dedicated to “High Efficient Buildings in Mediterranean Area: Challenges and Perspectives” and collects studies related to the assessment and evaluation of systems and technologies for building energy management and control in the Mediterranean climate, with the aim of optimizing the building–plant system and reducing energy use. This collection of papers presents the latest research results related to the topic; these articles offer valuable insights into the energy simulation of highly efficient buildings, propose innovative envelope solutions, such as green roofs, Trombe walls, and PCM, and investigate the use of renewable sources such as photovoltaic systems. The topics also include the innovative use and control of Venetian blinds and fixed solar shades in order to reduce energy consumption and preserve visual comfort, as well as an interesting economic analysis based on the cost-optimal approach.

nZEB --- photovoltaics --- geothermal energy system --- energy storage units --- energy transactions --- life cycle cost assessment --- payback period --- building design --- cost-optimal analysis --- BEopt --- economic projections --- smart solar shading --- energy saving --- venetian blinds --- trombe wall --- experimental analysis --- solar gains --- PCM thermal storage --- bioclimatic strategy --- traditional constructive technology --- wine vinification --- energetic retrofit --- shading systems --- multi-objective optimization --- energy savings --- visual comfort --- renewable energy sources --- PV systems configurations --- energy storage --- net present value --- emission reduction --- weather data --- typical weather year --- building energy simulations --- residential building --- energy demand --- energy efficiency policy --- nearly zero energy building --- Positive Energy Building --- energy performance of buildings --- thermal behaviour --- thermal dynamic simulation --- prefabricated buildings --- SUPRIM --- EnergyPlus --- building energy performance --- phase change materials --- green roof --- measurements --- thermal behavior --- monitoring --- dynamic model

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This Special Issue includes 20 contributions from across the world with very interesting and current research topics, such as insulation solutions and CO2 emissions; thermal transmittance of LSF walls; statistics for China’s building energy consumption; natural ventilation; thermal behavior of an earthbag building; thermal performance and comfort in a vernacular building; overheating risk under future extreme weather conditions; analytical methods to estimate the thermal transmittance of LSF walls; model simplification on energy and comfort simulation analysis; Trombe wall thermal behavior and energy efficiency of an LSF compartment; new metering hot box for in situ hygrothermal measurement; mechanical and thermal performance of compressed earth blocks; life-cycle assessment of a new house; energy analyses of Serbian buildings with horizontal overhangs; thermal properties of mortar blocks by using recycled glass; prediction of cooling energy consumption building using machine learning techniques; occupants’ behavior, climate change, heating, and cooling energy needs of buildings; a new method for establishing a hygrothermally controlled test room; nonintrusive measurements to incorporate the air renovations in dynamic models; and retrofit of existing buildings with aerogel panels.

Research & information: general --- Technology: general issues --- energy demand analysis --- insulation materials --- climate zones --- envelope --- CO2 emissions --- LSF construction --- facade wall --- partition wall --- thermal transmittance --- thermal bridges --- parametric study --- numerical simulations --- building energy statistics --- building energy consumption --- energy balance sheet --- building energy efficiency --- China --- building automation systems --- heating control --- energy savings --- earth building --- thermal comfort --- passive design --- monitoring and simulation --- glazed balcony --- indoor comfort --- passive strategies --- thermal performance --- vernacular architecture --- overheating risk --- evaluation --- cold climates --- lightweight steel frame --- LSF walls --- U-value --- analytical methods --- calculation procedures --- accuracy --- Model simplifications --- Thermal and visual comfort --- Energy performance --- IDA ICE --- Residential building --- passive solar --- Trombe wall --- light steel frame --- thermal behavior --- energy efficiency --- Mediterranean climate --- office use --- residential use --- heating set-points --- metering hot box --- in situ --- hygrothermal measurement --- dynamic conditions --- historic masonries --- HeLLo --- compressed earth blocks (CEBs) --- compressive strength --- durability --- guarded hot box --- LCA --- environmental impact --- house --- building envelope --- building --- overhangs --- energy consumption --- optimization --- GenOpt --- EnergyPlus --- crushed glass --- periodic thermal transmittance --- energy demand --- adaptive comfort --- social housing --- heating and cooling system --- optimization and management --- energy use prediction --- neural network --- support vector machine --- occupant behavior --- climate changes --- energy needs --- ventilation --- residential buildings --- DesignBuilder --- water vapor resistivity --- hygrothermal modeling --- condensation --- mold --- hygrothermal properties --- moisture transport --- inter-laboratory testing --- building energy --- performance assessment --- air renovation --- non-intrusive measurements --- on-board monitoring --- aerogel --- dynamic simulation --- retrofitting --- economic analysis --- energy demand analysis --- insulation materials --- climate zones --- envelope --- CO2 emissions --- LSF construction --- facade wall --- partition wall --- thermal transmittance --- thermal bridges --- parametric study --- numerical simulations --- building energy statistics --- building energy consumption --- energy balance sheet --- building energy efficiency --- China --- building automation systems --- heating control --- energy savings --- earth building --- thermal comfort --- passive design --- monitoring and simulation --- glazed balcony --- indoor comfort --- passive strategies --- thermal performance --- vernacular architecture --- overheating risk --- evaluation --- cold climates --- lightweight steel frame --- LSF walls --- U-value --- analytical methods --- calculation procedures --- accuracy --- Model simplifications --- Thermal and visual comfort --- Energy performance --- IDA ICE --- Residential building --- passive solar --- Trombe wall --- light steel frame --- thermal behavior --- energy efficiency --- Mediterranean climate --- office use --- residential use --- heating set-points --- metering hot box --- in situ --- hygrothermal measurement --- dynamic conditions --- historic masonries --- HeLLo --- compressed earth blocks (CEBs) --- compressive strength --- durability --- guarded hot box --- LCA --- environmental impact --- house --- building envelope --- building --- overhangs --- energy consumption --- optimization --- GenOpt --- EnergyPlus --- crushed glass --- periodic thermal transmittance --- energy demand --- adaptive comfort --- social housing --- heating and cooling system --- optimization and management --- energy use prediction --- neural network --- support vector machine --- occupant behavior --- climate changes --- energy needs --- ventilation --- residential buildings --- DesignBuilder --- water vapor resistivity --- hygrothermal modeling --- condensation --- mold --- hygrothermal properties --- moisture transport --- inter-laboratory testing --- building energy --- performance assessment --- air renovation --- non-intrusive measurements --- on-board monitoring --- aerogel --- dynamic simulation --- retrofitting --- economic analysis

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• Reference Manager
• EndNote
• RefWorks (Direct export to RefWorks)

This Special Issue includes 20 contributions from across the world with very interesting and current research topics, such as insulation solutions and CO2 emissions; thermal transmittance of LSF walls; statistics for China’s building energy consumption; natural ventilation; thermal behavior of an earthbag building; thermal performance and comfort in a vernacular building; overheating risk under future extreme weather conditions; analytical methods to estimate the thermal transmittance of LSF walls; model simplification on energy and comfort simulation analysis; Trombe wall thermal behavior and energy efficiency of an LSF compartment; new metering hot box for in situ hygrothermal measurement; mechanical and thermal performance of compressed earth blocks; life-cycle assessment of a new house; energy analyses of Serbian buildings with horizontal overhangs; thermal properties of mortar blocks by using recycled glass; prediction of cooling energy consumption building using machine learning techniques; occupants’ behavior, climate change, heating, and cooling energy needs of buildings; a new method for establishing a hygrothermally controlled test room; nonintrusive measurements to incorporate the air renovations in dynamic models; and retrofit of existing buildings with aerogel panels.

energy demand analysis --- insulation materials --- climate zones --- envelope --- CO2 emissions --- LSF construction --- facade wall --- partition wall --- thermal transmittance --- thermal bridges --- parametric study --- numerical simulations --- building energy statistics --- building energy consumption --- energy balance sheet --- building energy efficiency --- China --- building automation systems --- heating control --- energy savings --- earth building --- thermal comfort --- passive design --- monitoring and simulation --- glazed balcony --- indoor comfort --- passive strategies --- thermal performance --- vernacular architecture --- overheating risk --- evaluation --- cold climates --- lightweight steel frame --- LSF walls --- U-value --- analytical methods --- calculation procedures --- accuracy --- Model simplifications --- Thermal and visual comfort --- Energy performance --- IDA ICE --- Residential building --- passive solar --- Trombe wall --- light steel frame --- thermal behavior --- energy efficiency --- Mediterranean climate --- office use --- residential use --- heating set-points --- metering hot box --- in situ --- hygrothermal measurement --- dynamic conditions --- historic masonries --- HeLLo --- compressed earth blocks (CEBs) --- compressive strength --- durability --- guarded hot box --- LCA --- environmental impact --- house --- building envelope --- building --- overhangs --- energy consumption --- optimization --- GenOpt --- EnergyPlus --- crushed glass --- periodic thermal transmittance --- energy demand --- adaptive comfort --- social housing --- heating and cooling system --- optimization and management --- energy use prediction --- neural network --- support vector machine --- occupant behavior --- climate changes --- energy needs --- ventilation --- residential buildings --- DesignBuilder --- water vapor resistivity --- hygrothermal modeling --- condensation --- mold --- hygrothermal properties --- moisture transport --- inter-laboratory testing --- building energy --- performance assessment --- air renovation --- non-intrusive measurements --- on-board monitoring --- aerogel --- dynamic simulation --- retrofitting --- economic analysis