The main long-term goal of international communities is to achieve sustainable development. This issue is currently highly topical in most European Union (EU) countries due to the ongoing energy crisis. Building Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV), which can be integrated into the building surface (roof or facade), thereby replacing conventional building materials, contributes significantly to achieving zero net energy buildings. However, fire safety is important when using BIPV as a structural system in buildings, and it is essential that the application of BIPV as building facades and roofs does not adversely affect the safety of the buildings, their occupants, or the responding firefighters. As multifunctional products, BIPV modules must meet fire safety requirements in the field of electrical engineering as well as in the construction industry. In terms of building regulations, the fire safety requirements of the BIPV must comply with national building regulations. Within this article, aspects and fire hazards associated with BIPV system installations will be defined, including proposals for installation and material requirements that can help meet fire safety.

Quantum dot can be seen as an amazing nanotechnological discovery, including inorganic semiconducting nanodots as well as carbon nanodots, like graphene quantum dots. Unlike pristine graphene nanosheet having two dimensional nanostructure, graphene quantum dot is a zero dimensional nanoentity having superior aspect ratio, surface properties, edge effects, and quantum confinement characters. To enhance valuable physical properties and potential prospects of graphene quantum dots, various high-performance nanocomposite nanostructures have been developed using polymeric matrices. In this concern, noteworthy combinations of graphene quantum dots have been reported for a number of thermoplastic polymers, like polystyrene, polyurethane, poly(vinylidene fluoride), poly(methyl methacrylate), poly(vinyl alcohol), and so on. Due to nanostructural compatibility, dispersal, and interfacial aspects, thermoplastics/graphene quantum dot nanocomposites depicted unique microstructure and technically reliable electrical/thermal conductivity, mechanical/heat strength, and countless other physical properties. Precisely speaking, thermoplastic polymer/graphene quantum dot nanocomposites have been reported in the literature for momentous applications in electromagnetic interference shielding, memory devices, florescent diodes, solar cells photocatalysts for environmental remediation, florescent sensors, antibacterial, and bioimaging. To the point, this review article offers an all inclusive and valuable literature compilation of thermoplastic polymer/graphene quantum dot nanocomposites (including design, property, and applied aspects) for field scientists/researchers to carry out future investigations on further novel designs and valued property-performance attributes.

LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is a certification program for quantitatively assessing the qualifications of homes, non-residential buildings, or neighborhoods in terms of sustainability. LEED is supported by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), a nonprofit membership-based organization. Worldwide, thousands of projects received one of the four levels of LEED certification. One of the five rating systems (or specialties) covered by LEED is the Building Design and Construction (BD + C), representing non-residential buildings. This rating system is further divided into eight adaptations. The adaptation (New Construction and Major Renovation) or NC applies to newly constructed projects as well as those going through a major renovation. The NC adaptation has six major credit categories, in addition to three minor ones. The nine credit categories together have a total of 110 attainable points. The Energy and Atmosphere (EA) credit category is the dominant one in the NC adaptation, with 33 attainable points under it. This important credit category addresses the topics of commissioning, energy consumption records, energy efficiency, use of refrigerants, utilization of onsite or offsite renewable energy, and real-time electric load management. This study aims to highlight some differences in the EA credit category for LEED BD + C:NC rating system as it evolved from version 4 (LEED v4, 2013) to version 4.1 (LEED v4.1, 2019). For example, the updated version 4.1 includes a metric for greenhouse gas reduction. Also, the updated version 4.1 no longer permits hydrochlorofluorocarbon (HFC) refrigerants in new heating, ventilating, air-conditioning, and refrigeration systems (HVAC & R). In addition, the updated version 4.1 classifies renewable energy into three tiers, differentiating between onsite, new-asset offsite, and old-asset offsite types.

Building cooling load depends on heat gains from the outside environment. Appropriate orientation and masonry materials play vital roles in the reduction of overall thermal loads buildings. A net-zero energy building performance has been analyzed in order to ascertain the optimum orientation and wall material properties, under the climatic conditions of Owerri, Nigeria. Standard cooling load estimation techniques were employed for the determination of the diurnal interior load variations in a building incorporating renewable energy as the major energy source, and compared with the situation in a conventionally powered building. The results show a 19.28% reduction in the building’s cooling load when brick masonry was used for the wall construction. It was observed that a higher heat gain occurred when the building faced the East-West direction than when it was oriented in the North-South direction. Significant diurnal cooling loads variation as a result of radiation through the windows was also observed, with the east facing windows contributing significantly higher loads during the morning hours while the west facing windows contributed higher amounts in the evening. The economic analysis of the net-zero energy building showed an 11.63% reduction in energy cost compared to the conventional building, with a 7-year payback period for the use of Solar PV systems. Therefore, the concept of net-zero energy building will not only help in energy conservation, but also in cost savings, and the reduction of carbon footprint in the built environment.

This study examines how circular economy (CE) practices contribute to energy resilience by mitigating the impacts of energy shocks and supporting sustainable development. Through a systematic literature review (SLR) of recent studies, we analyze the ways in which CE strategies—such as resource recovery, renewable energy integration, and closed-loop supply chains—enhance energy security and reduce vulnerability to energy disruptions. Our research draws on academic databases, focusing on publications from 2018 to 2024, to identify key themes and practices that illustrate the transformative potential of the circular economy. Findings reveal that CE practices at macro, mezzo, and micro levels support resilience by fostering efficient resource use, reducing dependency on non-renewable energy sources, and promoting sustainable economic growth. Additionally, we highlight the roles of foreign direct investment (FDI), research and development (R&D), and supportive policies in accelerating the adoption of circular systems. The study concludes with recommendations for future research to address identified gaps, suggesting a roadmap for advancing circular economy practices as a means to enhance energy resilience and sustainability aims to reveal how wide array of factors affect transition towards more sustainable or circular economy.