The building sector, one of the most energy-consuming, is among the most current topics due to the maturing concerns about the anthropogenic factor’s impact on CO₂ quantities in the atmosphere and its association with global temperature rise. Using sustainable building materials is a promising alternative in building envelope applications to improve in-use energy efficiency. These materials, having a low environmental impact, the advantage of being renewable, and low embodied energy, contribute to global sustainability. This comprehensive literature review presents a broad overview of these materials’ hygrothermal characteristics, thermal performance, and energy use. The main goal is to compile the most important research findings on these materials’ capabilities for building construction and their contributions and effects on energy performance and thermal insulation.

Sustainability and energy efficiency are now two pivotal goals that society aims towards. Green roofs and facades have gained significant attention in this direction for innovative, sustainable solutions for enhancing building energy performance. With a focus on sustainable urban development and energy-efficient building practices, this study delves into the intricate relationship between these green infrastructure elements and the overall energy dynamics of constructed environments. Furthermore, a range of case studies from diverse geographical locations are presented to provide valuable insights into their practical implications as emerging technologies that contribute to improved insulation, reduced heat transfer, regulating indoor temperatures, and mitigation of urban heat island effects, thus reducing the need for artificial heating and cooling and optimizing overall energy consumption. This comprehensive review serves as a dataset for understanding and highlighting all the research findings of the numerical and experimental investigations invested in the field of greenery systems to encourage their integration, which is crucial for combating climate change and pollution. Previous research is often focused on isolated, short-term, or single-climate analyses of consumption; therefore, by providing an inclusive description of their practical benefits in both temperate and extreme climates, the gap in previous articles is tackled.