IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/rensus/v227y2026ics136403212501127x.html

Science-based actions to support decision-making in the building sector towards carbon-neutral cities

Author

Listed:
  • Consiglio, Erminia
  • Ferraris, Luca
  • Noé, Gaetano
  • Iacono, Melchiorina Mirella
  • Ferrara, Maria

Abstract

Cities represent focal points for human civilisation, in terms of concentration of population, economic, intellectual and cultural spheres of activity. Although they cover only 2 % of the earth's surface, they host 50 % of the population, they contribute to two-thirds of the energy consumption and to 70 % of the CO2 emissions.

Suggested Citation

  • Consiglio, Erminia & Ferraris, Luca & Noé, Gaetano & Iacono, Melchiorina Mirella & Ferrara, Maria, 2026. "Science-based actions to support decision-making in the building sector towards carbon-neutral cities," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 227(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:rensus:v:227:y:2026:i:c:s136403212501127x
    DOI: 10.1016/j.rser.2025.116454
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S136403212501127X
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.rser.2025.116454?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to

    for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Massimiliano Manfren & Benedetto Nastasi, 2020. "Parametric Performance Analysis and Energy Model Calibration Workflow Integration—A Scalable Approach for Buildings," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(3), pages 1-14, February.
    2. Manuel Alméstar & Sara Romero-Muñoz & Nieves Mestre, 2025. "Breaking Silos: A Systemic Portfolio Approach and Digital Tool for Collaborative Urban Decarbonisation," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(11), pages 1-25, June.
    3. Delmastro, Chiara & Gargiulo, Maurizio, 2020. "Capturing the long-term interdependencies between building thermal energy supply and demand in urban planning strategies," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 268(C).
    4. Cuce, Erdem & Cuce, Pinar Mert, 2016. "Vacuum glazing for highly insulating windows: Recent developments and future prospects," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 54(C), pages 1345-1357.
    5. Kok Loang Ooi & Norazlin Binti Ab Aziz & Wee Yeap Lau, 2025. "Digital Herding and Technology’s Role," Springer Books, in: Following the Crowd: Psychological Drivers of Herding and Market Overreaction, chapter 0, pages 83-94, Springer.
    6. Vito Albino & Umberto Berardi & Rosa Maria Dangelico, 2015. "Smart Cities: Definitions, Dimensions, Performance, and Initiatives," Journal of Urban Technology, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 22(1), pages 3-21, January.
    7. Richard B. Nyuur & Aziz Christian Jabaru & Ellis L. C. Osabutey, 2025. "Industrial, Science and Technology Policy in Ghana," Annals of Science and Technology Policy, now publishers, vol. 9(1), pages 64-110, June.
    8. Phoebe Koundouri & Angelos Alamanos & Stathis Devves & Conrad Landis & Kostantinos Dellis, 2024. "Innovations for Holistic and Sustainable Transitions," Energies, MDPI, vol. 17(20), pages 1-16, October.
    9. Naushaba Chowdhury & Pravin Balaraman & Jonathan Liu & Ibrahim Sirkeci & Jonathan A. J. Wilson, 2025. "B2B Marketing Technology," Springer Books, in: Essential B2B Marketing Strategies, chapter 0, pages 145-162, Springer.
    10. Rakesh Arora & Han Du & Raza Ali Kazmi & Duc-Phong Le, 2025. "Privacy-Enhancing Technologies for CBDC Solutions," Discussion Papers 2025-01, Bank of Canada.
    11. Koldo Urrutia-Azcona & Patricia Molina-Costa & Iñigo Muñoz & David Maya-Drysdale & Carolina Garcia-Madruga & Iván Flores-Abascal, 2021. "Towards an Integrated Approach to Urban Decarbonisation in Practice: The Case of Vitoria-Gasteiz," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(16), pages 1-20, August.
    12. Keirstead, James & Jennings, Mark & Sivakumar, Aruna, 2012. "A review of urban energy system models: Approaches, challenges and opportunities," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 16(6), pages 3847-3866.
    13. Fuster-Palop, Enrique & Prades-Gil, Carlos & Masip, X. & Viana-Fons, Joan D. & Payá, Jorge, 2021. "Innovative regression-based methodology to assess the techno-economic performance of photovoltaic installations in urban areas," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 149(C).
    14. Kristian Fabbri & Lia Marchi & Ernesto Antonini & Jacopo Gaspari, 2023. "Exploring the Role of Building Envelope in Reducing Energy Poverty Risk: A Case Study on Italian Social Housing," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(24), pages 1-22, December.
    15. Barbiero, Tommaso & Grillenzoni, Carlo, 2019. "A statistical analysis of the energy effectiveness of building refurbishment," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 114(C), pages 1-1.
    16. Mauree, Dasaraden & Naboni, Emanuele & Coccolo, Silvia & Perera, A.T.D. & Nik, Vahid M. & Scartezzini, Jean-Louis, 2019. "A review of assessment methods for the urban environment and its energy sustainability to guarantee climate adaptation of future cities," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 112(C), pages 733-746.
    17. Massimiliano Manfren & Maurizio Sibilla & Lamberto Tronchin, 2021. "Energy Modelling and Analytics in the Built Environment—A Review of Their Role for Energy Transitions in the Construction Sector," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(3), pages 1-29, January.
    18. Kılkış, Şiir & Ulpiani, Giulia & Vetters, Nadja, 2024. "Visions for climate neutrality and opportunities for co-learning in European cities," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 195(C).
    19. Ascione, Fabrizio & Bianco, Nicola & Mauro, Gerardo Maria & Napolitano, Davide Ferdinando, 2019. "Retrofit of villas on Mediterranean coastlines: Pareto optimization with a view to energy-efficiency and cost-effectiveness," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 254(C).
    20. Salvia, Monica & Reckien, Diana & Geneletti, Davide & Pietrapertosa, Filomena & D'Alonzo, Valentina & De Gregorio Hurtado, Sonia & Chatterjee, Souran & Bai, Xuemei & Ürge-Vorsatz, Diana, 2023. "Understanding the motivations and implications of climate emergency declarations in cities: The case of Italy," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 178(C).
    21. Becchio, Cristina & Bottero, Marta Carla & Corgnati, Stefano Paolo & Dell’Anna, Federico, 2018. "Decision making for sustainable urban energy planning: an integrated evaluation framework of alternative solutions for a NZED (Net Zero-Energy District) in Turin," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 78(C), pages 803-817.
    22. Grant J. Allan & David Waite & Graeme Roy, 2023. "A mission perspective on emissions reduction at the city level: the case of Glasgow, Scotland," Climate Policy, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 23(8), pages 1033-1044, September.
    23. Ye Li & Shixuan Li & Shiyao Xia & Bojia Li & Xinyu Zhang & Boyuan Wang & Tianzhen Ye & Wandong Zheng, 2023. "A Review on the Policy, Technology and Evaluation Method of Low-Carbon Buildings and Communities," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(4), pages 1-43, February.
    24. Nikolaos Papadakis & Dimitrios Al. Katsaprakakis, 2023. "A Review of Energy Efficiency Interventions in Public Buildings," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(17), pages 1-34, August.
    25. Galatioto, A. & Ciulla, G. & Ricciu, R., 2017. "An overview of energy retrofit actions feasibility on Italian historical buildings," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 137(C), pages 991-1000.
    26. ., 2025. "Humans and technology," Chapters, in: The Social and Legal Impact of Autonomous Vehicles, chapter 3, pages 29-46, Edward Elgar Publishing.
    27. Oecd, 2025. "An immersive technologies policy primer," OECD Digital Economy Papers 373, OECD Publishing.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Dorothee Hillrichs & Anita Wölfl, 2026. "More Chips, Anyone? Demand for Semiconductors in an Era of Active Industrial Policy," EconPol Forum, CESifo, vol. 27(01), pages 35-42, January.
    2. Gonzalez-Carreon, Karla M. & García Kerdan, Iván, 2025. "Optimising large-scale solar-based distributed energy generation systems in high-density urban areas: An integrated approach using geospatial and techno-economic modelling," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 327(C).
    3. Hermann, Julian & Kachirayil, Febin & Lohrmann, Alena & Scheller, Fabian & Roskosch, Dennis & McKenna, Russell, 2025. "A critical reflection on modelling approaches for heat pumps and building envelope retrofits in local energy system optimisations," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 400(C).
    4. Pigliautile, I. & Pisello, A.L. & Bou-Zeid, E., 2020. "Humans in the city: Representing outdoor thermal comfort in urban canopy models," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 133(C).
    5. Qu, Ke & Chen, Xiangjie & Wang, Yixin & Calautit, John & Riffat, Saffa & Cui, Xin, 2021. "Comprehensive energy, economic and thermal comfort assessments for the passive energy retrofit of historical buildings - A case study of a late nineteenth-century Victorian house renovation in the UK," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 220(C).
    6. Joana Fernandes & Maria Catarina Santos & Rui Castro, 2021. "Introductory Review of Energy Efficiency in Buildings Retrofits," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(23), pages 1-18, December.
    7. Kılkış, Şiir, 2024. "Urban emissions and land use efficiency scenarios for avoiding increments of global warming," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 307(C).
    8. Marvuglia, Antonino & Havinga, Lisanne & Heidrich, Oliver & Fonseca, Jimeno & Gaitani, Niki & Reckien, Diana, 2020. "Advances and challenges in assessing urban sustainability: an advanced bibliometric review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 124(C).
    9. Horak, Daniel & Hainoun, Ali & Neugebauer, Georg & Stoeglehner, Gernot, 2022. "A review of spatio-temporal urban energy system modeling for urban decarbonization strategy formulation," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 162(C).
    10. Perera, A.T.D. & Kamalaruban, Parameswaran, 2021. "Applications of reinforcement learning in energy systems," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 137(C).
    11. Şiir Kılkış & Anders Bjørn & Xuemei Bai & Jianguo Liu & Gail Whiteman & Beatrice Crona & Lauren Seaby Andersen & Syezlin Hasan & Varsha Vijay & Oscar Sabag, 2025. "City–company collaboration towards aligned science-based target setting," Nature Sustainability, Nature, vol. 8(1), pages 54-65, January.
    12. Perera, A.T.D. & Javanroodi, Kavan & Nik, Vahid M., 2021. "Climate resilient interconnected infrastructure: Co-optimization of energy systems and urban morphology," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 285(C).
    13. Konstantinos Alexakis & Sophia Komninou & Panagiotis Kokkinakos & Dimitris Askounis, 2025. "Climate-Sensitive Building Renovation Strategies: A Review of Retrofit Interventions Across Climatic and Building Typologies," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(18), pages 1-48, September.
    14. Massimiliano Manfren & Maurizio Sibilla & Lamberto Tronchin, 2021. "Energy Modelling and Analytics in the Built Environment—A Review of Their Role for Energy Transitions in the Construction Sector," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(3), pages 1-29, January.
    15. Manfren, Massimiliano & Nastasi, Benedetto & Tronchin, Lamberto & Groppi, Daniele & Garcia, Davide Astiaso, 2021. "Techno-economic analysis and energy modelling as a key enablers for smart energy services and technologies in buildings," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 150(C).
    16. Shimoda, Yoshiyuki & Yamaguchi, Yohei & Iwafune, Yumiko & Hidaka, Kazuyoshi & Meier, Alan & Yagita, Yoshie & Kawamoto, Hisaki & Nishikiori, Soichi, 2020. "Energy demand science for a decarbonized society in the context of the residential sector," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 132(C).
    17. Olga Bogdanov & Veljko Jeremiæ & Sandra Jednak & Mladen Èudanov, 2019. "Scrutinizing the Smart City Index: a multivariate statistical approach," Zbornik radova Ekonomskog fakulteta u Rijeci/Proceedings of Rijeka Faculty of Economics, University of Rijeka, Faculty of Economics and Business, vol. 37(2), pages 777-799.
    18. Roblek Vasja & Meško Maja & Podbregar Iztok, 2021. "Mapping of the Emergence of Society 5.0: A Bibliometric Analysis," Organizacija, Sciendo, vol. 54(4), pages 293-305, December.
    19. Jing, Gang & Cai, Wenjian & Zhang, Xin & Cui, Can & Yin, Xiaohong & Xian, Huacai, 2019. "An energy-saving oriented air balancing strategy for multi-zone demand-controlled ventilation system," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 172(C), pages 1053-1065.
    20. Junjie Liu & Xiaomeng Liu & Jiaoping Yang, 2024. "TOE Configuration Analysis of Smart City Construction in China Under the Concept of Sustainable Development," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(23), pages 1-15, December.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:rensus:v:227:y:2026:i:c:s136403212501127x. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/journaldescription.cws_home/600126/description#description .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.