Innovative Approaches to Retrofitting for Sustainable Built Environments
A special issue of Energies (ISSN 1996-1073). This special issue belongs to the section "G: Energy and Buildings".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 September 2025 | Viewed by 137
Special Issue Editors
Interests: building physics; energy performance of buildings; insulation; thermography; climate change; energy pathology; building surveying
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Interests: energy; buildings; retrofit; building performance; energy efficiency
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
In the face of global climate change and increasing energy demands, the importance of retrofitting existing buildings cannot be overstated. Retrofitting has emerged as a crucial strategy for improving energy efficiency, reducing carbon emissions, and enhancing the overall sustainability of our built environment. As we strive towards net-zero energy targets, the need for innovative approaches to retrofitting has become more pressing than ever, spanning across residential, commercial, and industrial sectors.
This Special Issue, titled "Innovative Approaches to Retrofitting for Sustainable Built Environments", aims to present and disseminate the most recent advances related to the theory, design, implementation, and evaluation of retrofitting strategies for existing buildings. We seek to showcase cutting-edge research and practical applications that are pushing the boundaries of what can be achieved in creating more sustainable and resilient structures.
Topics of interest for publication include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Occupant-centric retrofit approaches, including comfort optimization, user experience, and health co-benefits.
- Innovative materials, technologies, and construction methods for effective retrofitting.
- Performance evaluation techniques, including life-cycle assessments, building performance simulations, and post-occupancy evaluations.
- Strategies for scaling up retrofit practices, including management approaches, skills development, and supply chain optimization.
- Policy frameworks and economic models to support widespread adoption of retrofitting.
- Case studies of successful large-scale retrofit projects in various building types and climates.
- Integration of smart technologies and IoT in retrofit solutions.
- Retrofitting strategies for historical and culturally significant buildings.
- Innovative financing mechanisms for retrofit projects.
- Interdisciplinary approaches bridging technical, social, and economic aspects of retrofitting.
This Special Issue is in cooperation with the International Retrofit Conference 2025 (IRC'25), which will bring together experts from around the world to address the pressing challenges and opportunities in retrofitting existing structures. We encourage submissions that align with the conference themes and contribute to the global discourse on sustainable retrofitting practices.
By compiling a comprehensive collection of high-quality research papers, case studies, and review articles, we aim to provide valuable insights for researchers, practitioners, policymakers, and industry professionals working towards creating more sustainable and energy-efficient built environments through retrofitting.
Prof. Dr. Richard Fitton
Prof. Dr. William Swan
Guest Editors
Manuscript Submission Information
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Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 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
- sustainable retrofitting
- energy efficiency
- net-zero retrofit
- sustainable built environment
- retrofitting at scale
- retrofit regulations
- retrofitting strategies
- climate change mitigation
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