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The construction sector presently consumes about 40% of global energy and generates 36% of CO2 emissions, making facade retrofits a priority for decarbonising buildings. This review clarifies how ventilated facades (VFs), wall assemblies that interpose a ventilated air cavity between outer cladding and the insulated structure, address that challenge. First, the paper categorises VFs by structural configuration, ventilation strategy and functional control into four principal families: double-skin, rainscreen, hybrid/adaptive and active–passive systems, with further extensions such as BIPV, PCM and green-wall integrations that couple energy generation or storage with envelope performance. Heat-transfer analysis shows that the cavity interrupts conductive paths, promotes buoyancy- or wind-driven convection, and curtails radiative exchange. Key design parameters, including cavity depth, vent-area ratio, airflow velocity and surface emissivity, govern this balance, while hybrid ventilation offers the most excellent peak-load mitigation with modest energy input. A synthesis of simulation and field studies indicates that properly detailed VFs reduce envelope cooling loads by 20–55% across diverse climates and cut winter heating demand by 10–20% when vents are seasonally managed or coupled with heat-recovery devices. These thermal benefits translate into steadier interior surface temperatures, lower radiant asymmetry and fewer drafts, thereby expanding the hours occupants remain within comfort bands without mechanical conditioning. Climate-responsive guidance emerges in tropical and arid regions, favouring highly ventilated, low-absorptance cladding; temperate and continental zones gain from adaptive vents, movable insulation or PCM layers; multi-skin adaptive facades promise balanced year-round savings by re-configuring in real time. Overall, the review demonstrates that VFs constitute a versatile, passive-plus platform for low-carbon buildings, simultaneously enhancing energy efficiency, durability and indoor comfort. Future advances in smart controls, bio-based materials and integrated energy-recovery systems are poised to unlock further performance gains and accelerate the sector’s transition to net-zero. Emerging multifunctional materials such as phase-change composites, nanostructured coatings, and perovskite-integrated systems also show promise in enhancing facade adaptability and energy responsiveness.

The world’s demand for electricity will double by 2050. Despite its high potential as an eco-friendly technology for generating electricity, solar energy only covers a small percentage of the global demand. One of the challenges is associated with the sustainable use of land resources. Floating PV (FPV) plants on water bodies such as a dam, reservoir, canal, etc. are being increasingly developed worldwide as an alternative choice. In this background, the purpose of this research is to provide an outline of the hybrid floating solar system, which can be used to generate renewable energy. The hybrid technologies discussed include: FPV + hydro systems, FPV + pumped hydro, FPV + wave energy converter, FPV + solar tree, FPV + tracking, FPV + conventional power, FPV + hydrogen. The review also summarizes the key benefits and constraints of floating solar PV (FPV) in hybrid operation. Among the various hybrid FPV technologies, with solar input and hydro energy were among the most promising methods that could be potentially used for efficient power generation. The valuable concepts presented in this work provide a better understanding and may ignite sustainable hybrid floating installations for socio-economic growth with less environmental impact.

Reducing thermal losses through building envelopes remains a key strategy in the pursuit of low-carbon, energy-efficient buildings. This study presents an innovative and sustainable retrofitting approach involving thermal insulation plaster modified with finely ground hazelnut shells, an abundant agricultural by-product in Türkiye. The modified plaster is applied symmetrically on both sides of standard masonry briquettes in varying proportions (2%, 4%, and 6%), and its thermal performance is experimentally assessed via the laboratory-scale coheating test method. The results reveal a substantial reduction in U-values compared to the uninsulated briquette (5.5 W/m2K): the 2% shell-modified plaster achieves a U-value of 2.40 W/m2K (56.4% improvement), the 4% variant achieves 2.14 W/m2K (61.1%), and the 6% formulation performs best at 2.04 W/m2K (62.9%). In terms of effective thermal conductivity, the modified plasters exhibit values in the range of 0.0408–0.04856 W/mK. Additionally, the 6% composition exhibits enhanced thermal inertia, delaying internal heat loss and offering extended indoor comfort. All samples demonstrate exceptional measurement repeatability, with day-to-day U-value variation below 2%. These findings surpass thermal performance benchmarks reported in previous studies using bamboo or plaster thickness alterations, and position hazelnut shell-modified plaster as a high-potential solution for sustainable building retrofits. The outcomes offer practical implications for low-cost housing, rural construction, and building refurbishment programmes, while also informing policymakers and material standardisation bodies about scalable bio-based alternatives that align with circular economy and decarbonisation goals.

In Portugal, cheese holds a prominent position as a major dairy product, with traditional varieties enjoying widespread acclaim. A number of these cheeses have earned Protected Designations of Origin status, showcasing their unique qualities and regional significance. Notable examples include “Serra da Estrela”, “Serpa”, and “Terrincho”. The production of cheese relies heavily on heating and cooling processes, which account for a substantial portion of the total energy consumed. This research endeavour undertakes a detailed description and analysis of traditional cheesemaking practices within Portugal’s interior central region, with a particular emphasis on the economic and energetic efficiency of refrigeration systems. For this purpose, thirty-one traditional cheese production facilities were examined and classified into two distinct groups: Traditional Industrial Producers and Traditional Handmade Producers. The analysis was conducted through two separate case studies. The findings reveal that a significant 58% of the energy consumed by these facilities is attributed to electrically powered cooling systems, encompassing components such as fans, compressed air systems, and illumination. Within the production processes, fuel combustion, primarily naphtha or propane, serves the purpose of water heating and steam generation. Based on energy consumption reports, the Specific Energy Consumption of electricity was determined to be 0.283 kWh/lRM for TIP and 0.169 kWh/lRM for THP. Furthermore, several linear regression models were developed to explore the relationships between parameters such as cold room volume, compressor power, and raw material quantity. The study also identified key factors contributing to reduced energy efficiency within the facilities. These factors include inadequate insulation of buildings and cold rooms, outdated and poorly maintained refrigeration equipment situated in suboptimal locations, and cold rooms and compressors that are oversized and not optimised for efficient operation.

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Renewable energy technologies are in the centre of interest to narrow the gap between fossil fuels and clean energy systems. The dominant role of solar energy systems among the alternatives is beyond question owing to being associated with an infinite energy source, well-documented theory, simplicity, eco-friendly structure and notably higher energy and exergy efficiency range compared to other renewables. However, in solar energy systems, conventional working fluids with poor thermophysical properties are still utilised. In other words, further improvements are still available in the said systems by the use of unique nanoparticles with superior thermal, electrical, optical and mechanical properties. Within the scope of this research, the applications of nanofluids in various solar energy systems such as tracking and non-tracking solar collectors, photovoltaic/thermal systems, solar thermoelectric devices, solar stills, solar thermal energy storage systems, solar greenhouses and solar ponds are comprehensively analysed. Relevant comparisons and discussions are proposed for the potential impacts of various nanofluids on coefficient of performance (COP) and thermodynamic performance figures of solar energy systems such as energy and exergy efficiency, effectiveness and productivity. Some challenges of nanofluids are also addressed which need to be resolved in further works.

Molecular solar thermal (MOST) energy systems can be utilized for the absorption, storage, and release of energy from the ultraviolet (UV) band of the solar spectrum. In this study, we designed a molecular solar thermal energy storage and release device based on the photoisomerization reaction of azobenzene. The device was integrated with a parabolic trough solar system, broadening the absorption range of the solar spectrum. By utilizing a coated secondary reflector, the system achieved efficient reflection of ultraviolet (UV) light in the 290–490 nm range, while solid-state azobenzene enabled the conversion of photon energy into chemical energy for storage and release. Experimental results under winter outdoor conditions demonstrated that: the secondary reflector significantly enhanced UV light concentration; the molecular solar thermal energy device exhibited remarkable thermal efficiency. Under an average solar irradiance of 302.23 W·m−2, the device demonstrated excellent thermal performance, with the azobenzene reaching a peak temperature of 42.07 °C. The maximum heat release capacity was measured at 10.89 kJ·kg−1·m−1, while achieving a remarkable heat release power of 29.31 W·kg−1·m−1.

The construction sector, including in developed countries, plays a notable part in the overall energy consumption worldwide, being responsible for 40% of it. In addition to this, heating, ventilating and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems constitute the largest share in this sector, accounting for 40% of energy usage in construction and 16% globally. To address this, stringent rules and performance measures are essential to reduce energy consumption. This study focuses on mathematical optimisation modelling to enhance the performance of indirect-contact evaporative cooling systems (ICESs), a topic with a significant gap in the literature. This modelling is highly comprehensive, covering various aspects: (1) analysing the impact of the water-spraying unit (WSU) size, working air (WA) velocity and hydraulic diameter (Dh) on the evaporated water vapour (EWV) amount; (2) evaluating temperature and humidity distribution for a range of temperatures without considering humidity at the outlet of the WSU, (3) presenting theoretical calculations of outdoor temperature (Tout) and humidity with a constant WSU size and air mass flow rate (MFR), (4) examining the combined effect of the WA MFR and relative humidity (ϕ) on Tout and (5) investigating how Tout influences the indoor environment’s humidity. The study incorporates an extensive optimisation analysis. The findings indicate that the model could contribute to the development of future low-carbon houses, considering factors such as the impact of Tout on indoor ϕ, the importance of low air velocity for achieving a low air temperature, the positive effects of Dh on outdoor air and the necessity of a WSU with a size of at least 8 m for adiabatic saturation.

Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) hold potential for low-cost, high-efficiency solar energy, but their sensitivity to moisture limits practical application. Current fabrication requires controlled environments, limiting mass production. Researchers aim to develop stable PSCs with longer lifetimes under ambient conditions. In this research work, we investigated the stability of perovskite films and solar cells fabricated and annealed in natural air using four different anti-solvents: toluene, ethyl acetate, diethyl ether, and chlorobenzene. Films (about 300 nm thick) were deposited via single-step spin-coating and subjected to ambient air-atmosphere for up to 30 days. We monitored changes in crystallinity, electrical properties, and optics over time. Results showed a gradual degradation in the films’ crystallinity, morphology, and electro-optical properties. Notably, films made with ethyl acetate exhibited superior stability compared to other solvents. These findings contribute to advancing stable and high-performance PSCs manufactured under normal ambient conditions. In addition, we also discuss the possible machine learning (ML) approach to our future work direction to optimize the materials structures, and synthesis process parameters for future high-efficient perovskite solar cells fabrication.

Recently, there has been an increase in the grid integration of electric vehicles (EVs) and solar photovoltaic (PV) systems, primarily driven by two goals: lowering energy costs and decreasing emissions. Numerous research studies have concentrated on the separate effects of integrating PVs and EVs into the grid. Nevertheless, it is important to recognize that as the adoption of PVs and EVs continues to grow, the supply grid will face the cumulative effects of PV and EV integration on power quality (PQ) challenges. To provide a comprehensive understanding, this study examines the joint impact of PVs and EVs on PQ aspects in detail. This study has indicated that EVs and PVs alone can adversely impact grid reliability and PQ because of the variable character of PV source and the unpredictability of EV demand. But multiple research efforts have shown that coordination between PVs and EVs can help to alleviate certain problems that arise from their individual integration. This study demonstrates PQ enhancement in a grid system integrated with PV and EV using a multilayer perceptron neural network (MLPNN) approach. In the system with PV integration, the GWO-ANFIS, MPPT technique is employed for optimizing power extraction. Under balanced non-linear loading conditions, simulation results show that the THD is initially 25.97% without compensation, then decreases to 12.57% with a shunt passive filter (SPF), 3.37% with the application of recursive least squares (RLS), and 1.37% with MLPNN. With much lower THD and quicker convergence, the suggested MLPNN-based controller exhibits improved harmonic mitigation. A comparison between the proposed and existing methods are drawn using the MATLAB/Simulink platform.