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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.

Research & information: general --- Technology: general issues --- 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 --- 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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In recent years, the building sector has been turning towards intervening in the existing city building stock. In fact, it is generally accepted that the refurbishment of buildings and urban regeneration based on sustainability must form the axis of reformulation of the building sector. At present, achieving sustainable urban development inevitably involves improving existing buildings, thereby preventing the need for city growth, and for the emptying of established neighborhoods. Furthermore, considering the whole life cycle, the great amount of greenhouse emissions derived from the construction sector is well known; thus, in order to reach a decarbonized society, it is important to provide eco-efficient construction materials and solutions, adding the principles of the circular economy and resource efficiency. Therefore, the theme of this Special Issue is the “Decarbonization and Circular Economy in the Sustainable Development and Renovation of Buildings and Neighborhoods” in response to the objectives not only raised in the Horizon 2020 but by all the people who seek a more sustainable world. This Special Issue of Sustainability focuses on, but is not limited to: • Obtaining an overview of the environmental problems that arise from construction activity, focusing on refurbishment as an alternative to the current crisis in the construction sector, as well as on actions designed to minimize environmental effects on the environment; • Searching for new alternatives to conventional construction solutions that minimize the environmental impact of the construction activity, improve indoor environmental quality of buildings, build or refurbish, always from a rentable and optimal cost in time, and implement a circular economy and an efficient resource and waste management; • Minimizing the consumption of material resources, energy consumption and CO2 emissions in construction and looking for the proper management of construction and demolition waste and the opportunities for their recycling and reuse; • Sustainable planning and urban development, for an ordered and sustainable growth.

vegetal waste --- shredded corn cobs --- sunflower stalks --- green concrete --- mineral wool --- cement mortar --- recycling --- circular economy --- construction and demolition waste --- CO2 emissions --- disaggregated model --- dust --- noise and vibration emission --- environmental impact studies --- foundations and structures --- sustainability --- transportation --- social housing --- major renovation --- nZEB renovation --- cultural value --- condominium --- cool roof --- energy efficiency --- energy saving --- dynamic numerical method --- life cycle assessment --- disinvestment --- popular housing --- rehabilitation works --- sustainable construction --- waste management --- selective demolition --- waste quantification --- nearly zero-energy building --- End-of-Life Cost --- hospitality --- hotels --- sustainable assessment --- BREEAM methodology --- green hotel --- carbon footprint --- assessment tool --- dwelling construction --- cost control --- direct evaporative cooling --- new pad materials --- wet fabric --- saturation efficiency --- pressure drop --- citizen participation --- resilience --- urban regeneration --- bioclimatic refurbishment --- sustainable city --- Seville --- guide --- decarbonisation --- construction --- Circular Design --- circular technologies --- reversibility --- durability --- circular potential --- indicators --- service life --- closed material loops --- decarbonization of construction sector --- refurbishment of buildings --- neighbourhood regeneration --- eco-efficient construction solutions --- construction and waste management --- indoor environmental quality --- resource efficiency

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In recent years, the building sector has been turning towards intervening in the existing city building stock. In fact, it is generally accepted that the refurbishment of buildings and urban regeneration based on sustainability must form the axis of reformulation of the building sector. At present, achieving sustainable urban development inevitably involves improving existing buildings, thereby preventing the need for city growth, and for the emptying of established neighborhoods. Furthermore, considering the whole life cycle, the great amount of greenhouse emissions derived from the construction sector is well known; thus, in order to reach a decarbonized society, it is important to provide eco-efficient construction materials and solutions, adding the principles of the circular economy and resource efficiency. Therefore, the theme of this Special Issue is the “Decarbonization and Circular Economy in the Sustainable Development and Renovation of Buildings and Neighborhoods” in response to the objectives not only raised in the Horizon 2020 but by all the people who seek a more sustainable world. This Special Issue of Sustainability focuses on, but is not limited to: • Obtaining an overview of the environmental problems that arise from construction activity, focusing on refurbishment as an alternative to the current crisis in the construction sector, as well as on actions designed to minimize environmental effects on the environment; • Searching for new alternatives to conventional construction solutions that minimize the environmental impact of the construction activity, improve indoor environmental quality of buildings, build or refurbish, always from a rentable and optimal cost in time, and implement a circular economy and an efficient resource and waste management; • Minimizing the consumption of material resources, energy consumption and CO2 emissions in construction and looking for the proper management of construction and demolition waste and the opportunities for their recycling and reuse; • Sustainable planning and urban development, for an ordered and sustainable growth.

History of engineering & technology --- vegetal waste --- shredded corn cobs --- sunflower stalks --- green concrete --- mineral wool --- cement mortar --- recycling --- circular economy --- construction and demolition waste --- CO2 emissions --- disaggregated model --- dust --- noise and vibration emission --- environmental impact studies --- foundations and structures --- sustainability --- transportation --- social housing --- major renovation --- nZEB renovation --- cultural value --- condominium --- cool roof --- energy efficiency --- energy saving --- dynamic numerical method --- life cycle assessment --- disinvestment --- popular housing --- rehabilitation works --- sustainable construction --- waste management --- selective demolition --- waste quantification --- nearly zero-energy building --- End-of-Life Cost --- hospitality --- hotels --- sustainable assessment --- BREEAM methodology --- green hotel --- carbon footprint --- assessment tool --- dwelling construction --- cost control --- direct evaporative cooling --- new pad materials --- wet fabric --- saturation efficiency --- pressure drop --- citizen participation --- resilience --- urban regeneration --- bioclimatic refurbishment --- sustainable city --- Seville --- guide --- decarbonisation --- construction --- Circular Design --- circular technologies --- reversibility --- durability --- circular potential --- indicators --- service life --- closed material loops --- decarbonization of construction sector --- refurbishment of buildings --- neighbourhood regeneration --- eco-efficient construction solutions --- construction and waste management --- indoor environmental quality --- resource efficiency --- vegetal waste --- shredded corn cobs --- sunflower stalks --- green concrete --- mineral wool --- cement mortar --- recycling --- circular economy --- construction and demolition waste --- CO2 emissions --- disaggregated model --- dust --- noise and vibration emission --- environmental impact studies --- foundations and structures --- sustainability --- transportation --- social housing --- major renovation --- nZEB renovation --- cultural value --- condominium --- cool roof --- energy efficiency --- energy saving --- dynamic numerical method --- life cycle assessment --- disinvestment --- popular housing --- rehabilitation works --- sustainable construction --- waste management --- selective demolition --- waste quantification --- nearly zero-energy building --- End-of-Life Cost --- hospitality --- hotels --- sustainable assessment --- BREEAM methodology --- green hotel --- carbon footprint --- assessment tool --- dwelling construction --- cost control --- direct evaporative cooling --- new pad materials --- wet fabric --- saturation efficiency --- pressure drop --- citizen participation --- resilience --- urban regeneration --- bioclimatic refurbishment --- sustainable city --- Seville --- guide --- decarbonisation --- construction --- Circular Design --- circular technologies --- reversibility --- durability --- circular potential --- indicators --- service life --- closed material loops --- decarbonization of construction sector --- refurbishment of buildings --- neighbourhood regeneration --- eco-efficient construction solutions --- construction and waste management --- indoor environmental quality --- resource efficiency

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Buildings are one of the main causes of the emission of greenhouse gases in the world. Europe alone is responsible for more than 30% of emissions, or about 900 million tons of CO2 per year. Heating and air conditioning are the main cause of greenhouse gas emissions in buildings. Most buildings currently in use were built with poor energy efficiency criteria or, depending on the country and the date of construction, none at all. Therefore, regardless of whether construction regulations are becoming stricter, the real challenge nowadays is the energy rehabilitation of existing buildings. It is currently a priority to reduce (or, ideally, eliminate) the waste of energy in buildings and, at the same time, supply the necessary energy through renewable sources. The first can be achieved by improving the architectural design, construction methods, and materials used, as well as the efficiency of the facilities and systems; the second can be achieved through the integration of renewable energy (wind, solar, geothermal, etc.) in buildings. In any case, regardless of whether the energy used is renewable or not, the efficiency must always be taken into account. The most profitable and clean energy is that which is not consumed.

artificial neural network --- thermal performance --- dynamic simulation --- building renovation --- zero energy building --- building --- energy productivity --- building sector --- three-phase unbalance minimization --- optimization --- seasonal performance factor (SPF) --- envelope transmittance --- demolition --- envelope airtightness --- building energy prediction --- energy --- Korean household energy consumption --- floor envelope design --- building refurbishment --- perturbation and observation --- glazing --- ground and water source heat pump (ASHP --- sensitivity --- energy efficiency promotion --- model predictive control --- renovation --- home energy management system --- energy tunnel --- performance parameter design --- air --- coefficient of performance (COP) --- Arab region --- building rehabilitation --- ground heat transfer --- residential buildings --- Deutsche Gesellschaft für Nachhaltiges Bauen (DGNB) --- policy design --- building user activity --- Leadership in Energy &amp --- lightweight expanded clay aggregate (LECA) --- energy renovation --- energy performance --- urban modelling --- Maghreb --- analytical hierarchy process --- surface cooling --- thermal insulation --- Level(s) --- subtropical climate --- energy efficiency --- green building rating systems --- Ipomoea batatas --- big data --- life cycle cost analysis --- domestic hot water (DHW) --- multi-family buildings --- greenhouse --- building energy --- passive architecture --- prediction --- Haute Qualité Environnementale (HQE) --- Minimum-Energy Building (MEB) --- energy modeling --- Mashreq --- simulation engines --- HVAC demand --- test method --- adjustable step size --- life cycle cost --- energy saving ratio --- Environmental Design (LEED) --- influencing factors --- GSHP and WSHP) --- energy use --- subtropical climate building --- single-person household --- heat load --- energy performance standard --- technology package --- energy-performance gap --- GCC --- Building Research Establishment Assessment Method (BREEAM) --- energy pile --- nearly zero energy building --- co-simulation --- new construction --- space heating --- building stock energy demand --- low power loss --- maximum power point tracking --- envelope thermography --- extensive green roof --- OPERA-MILP

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This Special Issue aims at providing the state-of-the-art on procedures and methodologies developed to improve energy and environmental performance through building renovation. We are greatly thankful to our colleagues building physics experts, building technology researchers, and urban environment scholars who contributed to this Special Issue, for sharing their original works in the field.

Technology: general issues --- CFD --- enclosed building --- wind environment --- group layout --- Hangzhou --- China --- indoor air quality --- IAQ --- enthalpy --- humidity --- thermal comfort --- TC --- dissatisfaction --- panel tests --- nearly zero energy building --- NZEB --- indoor environmental quality --- IEQ --- indoor air quality models --- sustainable building --- multi-criteria decision analysis --- MCDM --- MADM --- user dissatisfaction --- weights system --- building comfort --- PD --- Residential users --- Demand Response --- Flexible loads --- Dwellings clustering --- building-integrated photovoltaics—BIPV --- building heritage --- energy efficiency --- traditional materials --- resilience --- urban regeneration --- adapting to change --- climate performance --- innovative technologies --- smoke --- natural exhaust --- mechanical exhaust --- smoke curtain --- fire dynamics simulator --- drying --- heat and moisture transfer --- hygro-thermal behavior --- masonry walls --- wet wall --- in situ monitoring --- energy benchmarking --- university campus --- energy performance certificate --- CIBSE TM46 --- thermal energy efficiency --- dynamic model --- energy performance of buildings --- low temperature district heating --- indoor comfort --- renovation --- urban scale --- energy requalification --- building envelope --- sustainable development and planning --- standardized interventions of requalification --- Geographic Information System --- biometric data --- biosignals --- non-intrusive sensing --- physiological metrics --- environmental stimuli --- stress detection --- health --- comfort --- human thermal perception --- multi-domain interactions --- noise sensation --- cross-modal perception --- n/a --- building-integrated photovoltaics-BIPV --- Lake Mungo / Walls of China (Willandra SW NSW SI54-08)