Geometric parameters in solar chimney power plants are numerically optimised for the purpose of better power output figures. Several parameters have been investigated in the pilot plant such as chimney height and diameter, collector diameter and slope, and slenderness. However, ground slope has not been studied to date despite its perspicuous impact on turbulent flow. In this study, the impacts of the different slope angles of the ground, where the solar radiation is absorbed through the collector, on the main performance parameters of the system are numerically analysed through a reliable CFD software ANSYS FLUENT. By considering the actual geometric figures of the pilot plant, a 3D model is constructed through DO (discrete ordinates) solar ray tracing algorithm and RNG k-ε turbulence model. For the solar intensity of 1000W/m², the maximum velocity inside the system is found to be 14.2m/s, which is in good accordance with the experimental data of 15.0m/s. Starting from 5m inside the collector, the chimney inlet heights are reconfigured 0.209, 0.419, 0.625, 0.838, and 1.04m, respectively, and when the ground slope is 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, and 0.5, the changes in the performance output of the system are investigated. For the reference case which refers to the horizontal ground, the maximum air velocity is determined to be 14.2m/s and the power output is 54.3kW. However, when the ground slope is made 0.5, it is observed that the maximum velocity increases by 37 to 19.51m/s, and the power output is enhanced to 63.95kW with a rise of 17.7. Sloping ground is found a key solution to improve the turbulent effects inside the plant, thus to enhance the electrical power output.

In the present work, a computational fluid dynamics analysis has been carried out for analysing heat transfer from a longitudinal fin with step change. For the aforementioned problem, heat is transferred by conduction through the fin along its length and dissipated from the fin surface via natural convection to the ambient and thermal radiation to the surrounding. For a given volume or mass, the total amount of heat dissipated from the fin surface, fin effectiveness and fin efficiency have been determined for two novel fin profiles and the results have been compared with that of conventional rectangular fin (CRF). Numerical calculations have been carried out for five different cases. It has been concluded that novel fin configurations dissipate more heat and produce higher fin efficiency than the CRF profile. The rectangular fin with single-step change has been found to be the most efficient fin profile in terms of maximum heat loss and fin efficiency. The optimum fin dissipated ∼3.4% more heat and provided 2% higher efficiency than the CRF profile. Some recommendations have been made about the potential application areas of proposed fin configurations.

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.

Building facade insulation technologies have evolved from primitive thermal barriers to high-performance, multifunctional systems that enhance energy efficiency and indoor comfort. Historical insulation methods, such as thick masonry walls and timber-based construction, have gradually been replaced by advanced materials and innovative facade designs. Studies indicate that a significant proportion of a building’s heat loss occurs through its external walls and windows, highlighting the need for effective insulation strategies. The development of double-skin facades (D-SFSs), adaptive facades (AFs), and green facades has enabled substantial reductions in heating and cooling energy demands. Materials such as vacuum insulation panels (VIPs), aerogels, and phase change materials (PCMs) have demonstrated superior thermal resistance, contributing to improved thermal regulation and reduced carbon emissions. Green facades offer additional benefits by lowering surface temperatures and mitigating urban heat island effects, while D-SF configurations can reduce cooling loads by over 20% in warm climates. Despite these advancements, challenges remain regarding the initial investment costs, durability, and material sustainability. The future of facade insulation technologies is expected to focus on bio-based and recyclable insulation materials, enhanced thermal performance, and climate-responsive facade designs. This study provides a comprehensive review of historical and modern facade insulation technologies, examining their impact on energy efficiency, sustainability, and future trends in architectural design.

Solar energy is deemed as the most abundant, reliable, eco-friendly and totally free resource of energy. There is a wide range of techniques to harness solar energy for different purposes. Among all the available methods, direct conversion of sunlight into electricity through photovoltaic (PV) phenomenon is the most mature and popular process. Progress of PV technology in market is perspicuous; however, it has still some drawbacks such as notable land requirement in cities, energy conversion efficiencies that already reached the theoretical limits and social acceptance issues due to aesthetic details. To overcome the aforesaid challenges, solar PV tree concept has been recently developed, and the simplicity, compact structure and elegance of this novel technology have been in the focus of researchers. Within the scope of this review, the concept of solar PV tree has been extensively investigated in terms of various design aspects and potential applications. Current performance characteristics of solar PV tree systems and power management strategies in real applications have been discussed. Challenges involved with the solar PV tree technology have also been addressed as well as suggestions on the direction of further works.

The amount of energy needed for HVAC (Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning) systems in the building depends on a variety of factors, and one of the most important is the conduction load through the building envelope. Due to its higher strength and large cavities, concrete hollow blocks have become more common in several countries. The thermal conductivity, thermal resistance and thermal transmittance (U value) of various complex hollow brick geometries are reviewed on the basis of modelling and simulation studies. Various techniques for improving thermal properties (K, R and U values) of hollow brick are addressed in order to increase building energy efficiency. Large hollow brick cavities provide higher transmittance values, which indirectly improve the overall heat transfer, radiation and insulation efficiency.