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Net Zero Architecture: Pathways to Carbon-Neutral Buildings
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Net Zero Architecture: Pathways to Carbon-Neutral Buildings

A special issue of Architecture (ISSN 2673-8945).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (8 December 2025) | Viewed by 6453

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Jamal Alabid

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Built Environment, Architecture & Creative Industries, University of Bradford, Bradford BD7 1DP, UK
Interests: Net Zero/low-energy buildings; retrofitting buildings sustainability; indoor air quality; thermal/visual comfort; lighting and daylight; ventilation and heat-recovery systems; sustainable architecture; passive house design; carbon cost-effectiveness and lifecycle analysis; digital architecture and BIM management; energy/thermal simulation for buildings; moisture and risk assessment in building retrofit
Dr. Bernard Tuffour Atuahene

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of the Built Environment, Architecture and Creative Industries, University of Bradford, Bradford BD7 1DP, UK
Interests: big data; sustainability; digital construction; construction management and digital capabilities
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Thomas Spiegelhalter

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Architecture, Florida International University, Miami, FL 33199, USA
Interests: carbon-neutral/positive design; passive & solar architecture; AI/ML generative design (BIM, Dynamo, Grasshopper); biomimetic/bionic principles; building physics, sustainable urbanism; large-scale master planning; post-industrial infrastructure; geospatial & climate data analysis

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

A roadmap to reduce global carbon emissions is an urgent call and response to degrading climate change by the international community of the United Nations in 2015. A viable strategy for addressing the environmental effects of carbon emissions worldwide and for achieving carbon emission reduction goals is the Net Zero carbon development system (Van Soest Et Al., 2021). In the UK climate committee report, which was a conference held on November 2022 for the 27th conference report, the United Kingdom committed to implement the Net Zero strategy and recognised the need to increase its response to the climate change catastrophe. Decarbonizing the built environment entails huge work from cross-sectoral stakeholders, including professionals, authorities, and local communities. In addition, solutions should be technology-driven and focus on long-term plans which ensure inclusive and sustainable practises. The primary aim of this Special Issue is to explore innovative ideas and opportunities in research to serve as the transformational phase towards true Net Zero carbon emissions. It will establish a platform for a multidisciplinary research approach which will focus on, but is not limited to, the following themes:

  • Green energy solutions;
  • Solar energy and storage;
  • Use of AI in achieving Net Zero carbon;
  • Green construction and materials;
  • Thermal and energy modelling;
  • Effective carbon cost analysis;
  • Lifecycle cost analysis of low-energy solutions;
  • Community-driven initiatives for energy policy and regulations;
  • Energy inequality and security in communities and global contexts.

Dr. Jamal Alabid
Dr. Bernard Tuffour Atuahene
Prof. Dr. Thomas Spiegelhalter
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Architecture is an international peer-reviewed open access quarterly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1200 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • Net Zero carbon
  • green energy
  • community-driven solutions
  • technology and innovation
  • lifecycle analysis

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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

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27 pages, 16034 KB  
Article
An Analytical Study of Horizontal Adaptations of Vernacular Barjeel (Windcatcher) in the Desert Architecture of the Gulf Region
by Shameel Muhammed, Hassam Nasarullah Chaudhry and Izah Mae C. Santiago
Architecture 2026, 6(1), 43; https://doi.org/10.3390/architecture6010043 - 10 Mar 2026
Viewed by 258
Abstract
The Hybrid Barjeel of the ORA House, designed for the Solar Decathlon Middle East 2018 in Dubai, is a contemporary reinterpretation of the traditional windcatcher—Barjeel, integrating vernacular cooling principles with modern mechanical systems to enable passive precooling of intake air in hot, arid [...] Read more.
The Hybrid Barjeel of the ORA House, designed for the Solar Decathlon Middle East 2018 in Dubai, is a contemporary reinterpretation of the traditional windcatcher—Barjeel, integrating vernacular cooling principles with modern mechanical systems to enable passive precooling of intake air in hot, arid climates. This study aims to evaluate the thermal performance of several horizontal windcatcher configurations developed during the ORA House design process and compare them with the conventional vertical windcatcher typology. Numerical simulations were performed using Computational Fluid Dynamics to analyse airflow behaviour and thermal characteristics—factors that directly influence cooling loads and indoor air quality, and ultimately contribute to carbon savings and cost efficiency. The results show that the horizontally integrated windcatcher effectively reduces the temperature of the supply air, demonstrating its viability as a passive precooling strategy; however, the performance improvement relative to the vertical configuration is modest. Overall, the findings suggest that horizontal windcatcher designs offer an architecturally flexible alternative for contemporary residential buildings, enabling better morphological integration without compromising functional potential. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Net Zero Architecture: Pathways to Carbon-Neutral Buildings)
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41 pages, 10256 KB  
Article
Optimization of Wall Insulation Configurations for Residential Compounds in a Hot Semi-Arid Climate (BSh)
by Snur A. A. Agha, Fenk Dlawar Miran, Nashmil Shwan Abdulrahman and Siham Musheer Kareem
Architecture 2026, 6(1), 40; https://doi.org/10.3390/architecture6010040 - 4 Mar 2026
Viewed by 304
Abstract
Residential buildings in Erbil City are increasingly facing challenges due to climatic extremes, rapid urbanization, and inadequate insulation practices. This study investigates the effects of insulation material type and placement on the thermal performance of external walls in both newly constructed and refurbished [...] Read more.
Residential buildings in Erbil City are increasingly facing challenges due to climatic extremes, rapid urbanization, and inadequate insulation practices. This study investigates the effects of insulation material type and placement on the thermal performance of external walls in both newly constructed and refurbished houses under the hot semiarid climate (BSh). Using integrated environmental solutions virtual environment (IES-VE) simulations, various wall systems—concrete, brick, and lightweight block—were assessed with different insulation types (expanded polystyrene (EPS), extruded polystyrene (XPS), rock wool (RW), and mineral wool (MW)) applied either internally or externally. Field surveys combined with numerical simulations demonstrated that external insulation significantly enhances thermal mass without diminishing insulation effectiveness, leading to greater energy savings and improved indoor comfort. Among all configurations, externally applied XPS on concrete and lightweight block walls achieved the highest resistance values (R-values) and the greatest reductions in heating and cooling loads. The results indicate that prioritizing the placement of external insulation can support the development of more energy-efficient and climate-responsive housing policies in Erbil. This research offers evidence-based recommendations for optimizing building envelope design in similar climatic contexts. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Net Zero Architecture: Pathways to Carbon-Neutral Buildings)
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15 pages, 947 KB  
Article
Quantity Surveyors’ Role in Enhancing Green Construction Performance via Dispute Resolution
by Tharaki Sathyavi Hettiarachchi and Jamal M. Alabid
Architecture 2025, 5(3), 83; https://doi.org/10.3390/architecture5030083 - 12 Sep 2025
Viewed by 1720
Abstract
Dispute resolution significantly enhances construction performance as it facilitates effective time, cost, quality and scope management, which may be disrupted in the presence of conflicts and disputes. Quantity Surveyors (QSs) play multiple roles in construction and act as contract administrators. Yet, dispute resolution [...] Read more.
Dispute resolution significantly enhances construction performance as it facilitates effective time, cost, quality and scope management, which may be disrupted in the presence of conflicts and disputes. Quantity Surveyors (QSs) play multiple roles in construction and act as contract administrators. Yet, dispute resolution was not formally adapted into the profession of QS in the Sri Lankan green construction sector to a considerable extent. Therefore, this study explores the extent to which construction companies have adopted ADR (Alternative Dispute Resolution) methods, human skills required for QSs in effective dispute resolution, and the impact of QSs involvement in ADR on the organizational performance, following a quantitative analysis. The research outcomes mainly discovered possibilities of utilizing ADR for the purpose of reducing carbon emissions and energy consumption in Sri Lankan green building construction through QSs involvement. While identifying essential human skills and competencies required for QSs in handling disputes, this study further exposed a slightly significant traditional gender domination in the QSs’ involvement towards ADR, common occurrences of disputes in green building projects, and a significant relationship between QSs’ experience and their involvement in disputes. The recommendations include enhancement of QSs’ involvement in ADR for green construction through developing policies and formalities, providing sufficient ADR- and green construction-related training, encouraging female participation in green construction, and collaborative dispute resolution. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Net Zero Architecture: Pathways to Carbon-Neutral Buildings)
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27 pages, 1310 KB  
Article
One-Stop Shop Solution for Housing Retrofit at Scale in the United Kingdom
by Chamara Panakaduwa, Paul Coates and Mustapha Munir
Architecture 2025, 5(3), 40; https://doi.org/10.3390/architecture5030040 - 20 Jun 2025
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2190
Abstract
Retrofitting the existing housing stock to a high level of energy efficiency will not be limited to achieving the decarbonisation of 80.3 MtCO2e residential emissions and reducing fuel poverty in 4.16 million households, but also improving the health and well-being of UK residents [...] Read more.
Retrofitting the existing housing stock to a high level of energy efficiency will not be limited to achieving the decarbonisation of 80.3 MtCO2e residential emissions and reducing fuel poverty in 4.16 million households, but also improving the health and well-being of UK residents and their overall quality of life. The current progress of housing retrofitting is poor, at less than 1%. The UK expects to achieve net zero by 2050, and the challenge is immense as there are more than 30 million houses. The challenge is similar in other global contexts. Even if the required technology, supply chain, skilled labour, and finance could have been provided, the retrofitting would not move forward without positive engagement from the clients. Proper strategies are required to retrofit at scale. Focusing on the challenges of stakeholder engagement in housing retrofitting, this study focused on developing a hybrid one-stop shop solution through design science research. A theoretical artefact and an empirical system requirement specification document were developed to propose a one-stop shop solution. This was tested through retrofit industry stakeholders. Findings reveal that the one-stop shop model will be a good answer to retrofitting at scale, providing the resident engagement of 30.1 million households. The model can support residents with or without computer literacy due to its hybrid approach. The proposed theoretical and industrial models can be used as base models for developing one-stop shops for housing retrofitting by adapting them for context-specific requirements. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Net Zero Architecture: Pathways to Carbon-Neutral Buildings)
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Review

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36 pages, 2153 KB  
Review
A Review of Net-Zero Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emission Non-Regulatory Environmental Building Standards and Frameworks
by Simon Hatherley, Craig Robertson, Esfand Burman and Dejan Mumovic
Architecture 2026, 6(1), 19; https://doi.org/10.3390/architecture6010019 - 29 Jan 2026
Viewed by 562
Abstract
Non-regulatory environmental building standards have been used in the built environment for more than thirty years and have had considerable influence over building development and policy. This paper identifies a trend, following the Paris Agreement, towards a new generation of non-regulatory building standards [...] Read more.
Non-regulatory environmental building standards have been used in the built environment for more than thirty years and have had considerable influence over building development and policy. This paper identifies a trend, following the Paris Agreement, towards a new generation of non-regulatory building standards and frameworks based on defining net-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emission performance. These standards and frameworks have been developed in response to the imperatives of the Paris Agreement and other contextual drivers. Post-Paris Agreement, net-zero GHG emission standards have the following characteristics: a threshold-based approach to achieving certification; the use of a small number of metrics (typically two: operational energy and embodied carbon); and compliance based on operational performance rather than predicted operational energy use with models used to replicate the building in use. This paper will discuss global non-regulatory, net-zero GHG emission standards comparing the relative requirements and highlighting commonalities and differences. The paper also compares the post-Paris Agreement, net-zero GHG emission standards with pre-Paris Agreement low carbon credit-based environmental building standards considering their role in the development of net-zero GHG building standards and the possible impact of performance-based standards on new buildings. This study is relevant for policy makers, designers, and building developers by identifying the developing global consensus around what constitutes a net-zero GHG building and theorises, in relation to their developmental context, the implications of widespread implementation of these standards. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Net Zero Architecture: Pathways to Carbon-Neutral Buildings)
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