This paper presents a systematic review of the progress of the research on limestone-calcined clay cement (LC3), focusing on its low-carbon characteristics, sustainable applications, and performance. LC3 can be used to address the high carbon emission problem in the cement industry, as its use significantly reduces carbon dioxide emissions (by 30%–40%) due to clinker being partially replaced with calcined clay and limestone in its fabrication. Studies have shown that the hydration reaction of LC3 generates calcium-aluminum-silicate hydrate (C-A-S-H), carbon-aluminate, and calcium alumina, which optimize its microstructure and endow it with comparable mechanical properties (28 day compressive strength close to or exceeding that of OPC) and better durability (outstanding resistance to sulfate erosion and carbonation) compared to ordinary Portland cement (OPC). LC3 has been used in 3D printing, ocean engineering, geotechnical reinforcement, and other applications, all of which have verified its engineering feasibility. Despite the significant environmental and economic advantages of LC3, its high-temperature performance, freeze–thaw resistance, and long-term durability still need to be further investigated. This paper provides theoretical support and practical references for the development and promotion of low-carbon cement materials.

Double skin façades (DSFs), offer great views, architectural aesthetics, and energy savings. Yet, in a fire event the glass façade breaks leading to risks to human life and firefighting difficulties. Shading devices incorporated to prevent unfavourable heat gains to reduce cooling load though offer energy savings potentially present other challenges in firefighting and occupants’ evacuation. In this study, Fire Dynamic Simulator (FDS) was used to numerically investigate the spread of a 5 MW HRR polyurethane GM27 fire in a multi-storey double skin façade building with Venetian blinds placed in its cavity. The blinds were positioned 0.4 m away from the internal glazing, middle of the cavity and 0.4 m away from the external glazing respectively. In each blind position the slat angle was opened at 0°, 45°, 90° and 135° respectively. The results show peak inner glazing surface temperature ranged between 283°C to 840°C depending on the thermocouple position, the Venetian blind position and slat opening angle. Without Venetian blinds, peak inner glazing surface temperatures ranged between 468°C to 614°C. In all cases except when the slat angle was 0° and the blind was positioned closer to the outer glazing, the inner glazing surface temperature from the closest thermocouple (TC 14) above the fire room exceeded 600°C, the glass breakage temperature threshold. Overall, the Venetian blind position and slat opening angle influenced the spread of fire. Venetian blind combustibility and flammability were not considered and therefore recommended for future studies. Practical Application: Our manuscript helps to develop new thinking on mitigation of fire risks in buildings for architects, engineers and designers when incorporating Venetian blinds in Double Skin Façades (DSFs).

Phase change emulsions (PCMEs) are always identified as potential working fluids that could be used to reduce circulating pump energy consumption in chill water air conditioning systems. But how PCME behaves in a fin-and-tube heat exchanger is still unclear, which limited the application of such material. The paper focused on experimental studies of performance of a novel PCME, named as PCE-10, in a fin-and-tube heat exchanger. The research analyzed heat transfer and flow behavior in fin-and-tube heat exchangers and the experimental results are compared with numerical studies published. Both studies showed that PCE-10 had its advantages as a cold storage medium, as PCE-10 did help to improve the heat transfer rate of heat exchanger by factor of 1.1–1.3 at the same flow rate compared with water.

The incorporation of phase change material (PCM) can enhance wall thermal performance and indoor thermal comfort, but practical applications still face challenges related to high costs and potential leakage issues. In this study, a novel dual-biomass-based shape-stabilized PCM (Bio-SSPCM) was proposed, wherein waste cooking fat and waste reed straw were, respectively, incorporated as the PCM substance and supporting material. The waste fat (lard) consisted of both saturated and unsaturated fatty acid glycerides, exhibiting a melting point about 21.2–41.1 °C and a melting enthalpy value of 40 J/g. Reed straw was carbonized to form a sustainable porous biochar supporting matrix, which was used for the vacuum adsorption of waste fat. The results demonstrate that the as-prepared dual-Bio-SSPCM exhibited excellent thermal performance, characterized by a latent heat capacity of 25.4 J/g. With the addition of 4 wt% of expanded graphite (EG), the thermal conductivity of the composite PCM reached 1.132 W/(m·K), which was 5.4 times higher than that of the primary lard. The thermal properties of the Bio-SSPCM were characterized using an analog T-history method. The results demonstrated that the dual-Bio-SSPCM exhibited exceptional and rapid heat storage and exothermic capabilities. The dual-Bio-SSPCM, prepared from waste cooking fat and reed straw, can be considered as environmentally friendly construction material for energy storage in line with the principles of the circular economy.