Future technologies for building sector to accelerate energy transition

This Editorial briefly introduces and organizes the worthy studies provided in the Special Issue of Energy and Buildings, entitled “Future technologies for building sector to accelerate energy transition: a special issue”. The main topics of selected papers are herein summarized, proposing scientific studies concerning the next generation buildings, and thus mandatory targets of energy efficiency, reduction of energy demands, novel technologies for building envelope and active energy systems, on-site conversion from renewable energy sources. Both areas of the building industry are considered, and thus decarbonization of existing buildings and novel constructions characterized by mandatory energy performance levels of nearly, net- and plus-energy buildings. These topics are crucial for improving building performance, and reducing energy consumption, with reference to both the heating and cooling seasons, therefore addressing the new and mandatory challenges of zero-energy and zero-emission buildings, also taking into account climate change. The results of manuscripts published in this special issue show worthy potential and real achievements, with significant reductions in energy demands and emissions, and therefore they underline the usefulness of traditional and novel technologies and strategies for buildings, highlighting the economic and environmental benefits of novel design and retrofitting methods and solutions. The debated topics are essential to dealing with climate change, reducing energy poverty, environmental impact, local overheating and UHIs, going, finally, in the direction of a mandatory, sustainable, and smart future for the building sector.