Energy retrofitting using advanced building envelope materials for sustainable housing: A review

Abstract

Global energy consumption by buildings represents 34% of final energy use and 37% of energy-related CO₂ emissions, emphasising the critical need for sustainable, energy-efficient housing solutions. Despite significant advancements, there is a substantial gap in effectively applying advanced materials within building envelopes to achieve optimal energy efficiency, particularly in hot climates. This study focuses on the residential sector's excessive energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions, primarily caused by inadequate insulation and outdated construction practices. The objective is to systematically evaluate the effectiveness, performance, economic and environmental impacts, retrofitting techniques and challenges of using advanced building envelope materials, phase change materials, aerogels, vacuum insulation panels, and heat-reflective coatings for energy retrofitting in residential buildings. A comprehensive systematic review was conducted following PRISMA guidelines using the Scopus database. Rigorous inclusion and exclusion criteria produced 76 high-quality studies. The analysis synthesises findings on material performance under various climatic conditions and application strategies and their impacts on energy efficiency, thermal comfort, durability, cost-effectiveness, and sustainability. Results show that advanced materials have immense potential. They can significantly improve thermal regulation, reduce energy usage for heating and cooling, and lower CO₂ emissions with benefits varying across climates and application strategies. Challenges include high initial costs, long-term performance uncertainties, implementation issues, and broader applicability. This research uniquely contributes by comprehensively synthesising recent advancements, analysing economic feasibility and environmental impacts, offering valuable insights for stakeholders. It also emphasises the need for future research to address limitations and promote sustainable, energy-efficient building solutions.