In recent decades, the sustainable development of the planet has been negatively affected by a number of factors, including the construction industry. The construction industry includes, among other things, the highly topical energy reconstruction of existing prefabricated residential housing, which is implemented to improve their condition from a thermal engineering and energy perspective. Composite materials, known as external thermal insulation composite systems (ETICSs), have come to the fore, bringing a number of undeniable benefits to society. After more than 20 years of experience, it turns out that in addition to the benefits, ETICSs also bring new research challenges to the discussion, which are related to the issue of the biocorrosion of the external envelope of ETICSs, and also to the issue of the indoor microclimate. Based on the literature review and case studies, we aim to show that ecologically friendly building materials require a multidisciplinary approach. At the same time, we want to contribute to the discussion of whether the diversity of microorganisms on ETICS composites is a potential source of health risks and whether the transport of microorganisms to the indoor environment can be ruled out through natural ventilation from the outdoor environment to the interior.

Post-industrial sites are a part of many cities. The impacts of industrial activities are not only evident in the area where the activity took place, but also affect the buildings within these areas. Buildings that served the industry in the past were built mainly by mass construction methods. From today’s point of view, these buildings are unsatisfactory in terms of typology, operation, and energy. In particular, energy rehabilitation is a way to restore industrial buildings and bring them to a full-fledged state. This issue is documented in a case study of a city affected by underground mining activity and on a selected skeleton construction. Given that industrial buildings have heavy or mass structures where some elements like beams and columns are damaged, it is crucial to consider not only energy solutions, but also the structural and architectural aspects of these buildings. In terms of thermal engineering and energy, including the renovation of structures, a software-supported evaluation of three material variants for the envelope walls of the skeleton construction from the 1970s was conducted. This study evaluates the thermal performance of conventional, proposed, and traditional wall designs by analysing their U-values, thermal resistance, and structural advantages. The results reveal that the conventional wall, featuring a 150 mm EPS 70 NEO insulation layer, achieves the lowest U-value, outperforming the proposed wall by a factor of 1.2 in thermal resistance. Both designs significantly reduce U-values compared to traditional walls, by factors of 6.55 and 5.40, respectively. Despite a 23% reduction in thickness relative to the conventional wall (and 44% compared to traditional walls), the proposed wall demonstrates robust thermal performance. Further benefits include reduced structural dead load, with the conventional and proposed walls being 3.70 times lighter per square meter than traditional walls. This reduction can decrease foundation, column, and beam dimensions, optimizing building design. Thermal bridging analysis highlights superior corner insulation in conventional walls due to higher surface temperatures, while the proposed wall maintains effective insulation with surface temperatures close to indoor conditions. Overall, the findings underscore the importance of advanced materials in achieving efficient thermal performance while balancing architectural and structural demands. The results achieved from the experimental work show that industrial buildings can be effectively energy-renovated in a way that complies with legislative documents, successfully extends the physical life of the frame structures, and contributes to carbon neutrality.

Concrete is a fundamental material in construction, but its production, particularly the manufacturing of cement as a binding agent, is a significant source of CO₂ emissions, contributing  to global climate change. With the continued demand for concrete in infrastructure development, there is an urgent need to identify and implement sustainable, low-carbon alternatives. This study addresses this challenge by evaluating the environmental performance of conventional and emerging low-carbon materials used in concrete production. Using the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology, we conducted a comparative analysis of multiple concrete mixtures, focusing on their embodied carbon and overall environmental impact. Our findings highlight the potential of novel materials to reduce the carbon footprint of concrete while maintaining structural integrity. This research provides critical insights into the sustainability of low-carbon concrete and offers practical guidance for the construction industry to transition toward more environmentally friendly practices.

The sustainable renovation of ageing industrial buildings presents both a challenge and an opportunity to enhance energy efficiency while preserving architectural and structural integrity. This study develops an integrated methodological framework for assessing and optimising multilayer wall systems in such conversions, combining thermal, environmental, and durability analyses. Six composite wall configurations were designed and numerically evaluated using steady-state 2D heat conduction and vapour-diffusion models. The results reveal substantial thermal improvement compared to the reference uninsulated brick wall (U = 1.41 W/m²·K). The proposed systems achieved U-values between 0.351 and 0.172 W/m²·K, meeting or surpassing European energy standards. The BP–EPS wall exhibited the lowest U-value (0.172 W/m²·K), while the FC–EPSR configuration achieved superior corner performance with a 2D surface temperature (Tsi) of 17.99 °C and the highest surface temperature factor (fRsi = 0.943), along with a reduced condensation risk, indicating more balanced overall performance. Weight and thickness reductions of up to 80.5% and 52%, respectively, were observed, enhancing retrofit feasibility and space efficiency. Life Cycle Assessment results indicated that optimised wall configurations reduced embodied carbon (A1–A3) by up to 78% and total life cycle emissions (A1–A3 + B6) by over 86% relative to the reference case. Vapour-diffusion analysis confirmed the FC–EPSR wall’s lowest condensation fraction, indicating excellent hygrothermal durability. Multi-criteria evaluation using the simple additive weighting method and Monte Carlo robustness analysis verified FC–EPSR as the most balanced and reliable system. Overall, the findings present a validated and replicable pathway for the sustainable renovation of industrial buildings, supporting the goals of European carbon neutrality and the circular economy.

The growing concern over climate change has intensified the need to control greenhouse gas emissions, particularly in the building sector. A significant portion of a building’s environmental impact arises during its operational phase, primarily due to energy consumption for heating and cooling. Insulation wall materials play a crucial role in enhancing energy efficiency by reducing heat transfer, thereby lowering energy demand and long-term carbon emissions. However, the selection of insulation materials is often driven by technical performance, with limited consideration of their full life-cycle impact. This study adopts a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) approach to evaluate the environmental performance of various insulation materials, comparing their embodied carbon, thermal properties, and overall contribution to sustainability. By analyzing both conventional and emerging solutions, the research aims to provide quantitative insights that assist in selecting materials that balance energy efficiency, durability, and environmental impact. The findings will offer guidance for optimizing insulation material choices to reduce carbon footprints while ensuring thermal performance in sustainable building practices.

The article focuses on the structural and architectural design of buildings for civic amenities in the city in conditions of different climatic zones, maps the current construction in the context of the principles of sustainability. Construction trends show that the aim of society is to focus on modern construction technologies, while applying a comprehensive building design in combination with an appropriate material solution. A meaningful combination of building design, technologies and material solutions is a motivational tool for contemporary society. The aim of the article is to present new construction trends in selected countries with different climatic zones, based on the State of Art, and to compare selected aspects of this construction, which then lead to the definition of functional connections creating a common segment for the future of modern construction.