Energy Efficiency in Buildings and Innovative Materials for Building Construction

The main topics of this Special Issue regard energy efficiency in buildings and the use of innovative materials for design and retrofitting to pursue this goal. In developed countries, energy consumption in buildings comprises 20–40% of total energy use, which is above industry and transport in the EU and the USA. For this reason, energy eciency strategies have become a priority in energy policy, with new regulations and certification schemes, including minimum requirements. This could be achieved by means of different approaches, among which energy saving in buildings will be essential in order to make a sustainable energy future possible. In Europe, the new Clean Energy for All Europeans package also outlines specific measures for the building sector, with considerable potential for gains in energy performance. Among the measures, it is worth mentioning the boost in renovation for more energy-efficient buildings, as well as improved monitoring of buildings’ energy performance so as to reduce costs.