Special Issue Information

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 research shows that indoor environmental quality can influence human health. Daylight performance and optimization of glazing ratios in buildings are not only impacting energy consumption but also the visual and thermal comfort of occupants.

There is an international imperative, with the largest ever international coalition dedicated to attaining net carbon neutrality by 2050. 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 methods of improving indoor environmental quality and well-being and promoting social and cultural diversity in different contexts.

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 maximise beneficial connections between them at the community level. Therefore, it is vital to create a comfortable living environment for occupants and reduce building energy consumption through the interaction of urban space and activity space.

Considering the importance of the theme“Indoor environmental quality and human health," the Journal of Building Design and Environment has decided to dedicate a special issue to bringing together manuscripts that focus on methods, space design, daylighting, thermal environments, and energy efficiency strategies to enhance occupants' living quality and physical and psychological health.

Key topics of the SI
For this special issue, we are looking for original articles that address the following topics:
● The approach towards improving energy efficiency in buildings
● Optimization of glazing ratio and daylighting
● Thermal environment and environmental comfort
● 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 of the SI
● Building performance and sustainability
● Energy and indoor climate 
● Thermal environment 
● Daylighting 
● Visual and thermal comfort 
● Social and cultural sustainability 
● Computer simulation 
● Case studies 
● Research methodology

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