In the face of contemporary challenges, such as economic instability, environmental degradation, and the urgent global warming crisis, the imperative of sustainability and energy efficiency has reached unparalleled significance. Sustainability encompasses not only the natural environment, but also extends to our immediate surroundings, including the built structures and the communities they serve. Embracing this comprehensive perspective, we embarked on a mission to conceive and construct a model house that harnesses state-of-the-art energy-efficient technologies. Our goal was to seamlessly integrate these features not only to meet our sustainability objectives, but also to mitigate environmental threats.This model embodies a harmonious fusion of indigenous resources, employing locally sourced stone and employing traditional construction techniques. Through this approach, we achieved significant reductions in carbon emissions and established a framework for passive cooling and heating systems. Moreover, the design is intrinsically attuned to its contextual surroundings, preserving the diverse tapestry of regional architectural styles. This study stands as a testament to the potential of innovative design and technology in shaping a sustainable future. The research employs a multi-dimensional approach, encompassing strategies of architectural design with a traditional planning approach, sustainable material selection, energy efficiency, and life cycle assessment across a diverse set of case studies. Building energy analysis is conducted through the application of BIM (Ecotect), providing insights into how BIM can adapt and thrive in various environments. Key findings underscore that thermal performance, minimizing energy loads, and reducing carbon emissions are pivotal aspects in designating a building as both green and energy efficient.

Sustainable development is crucial worldwide. Under the Paris Agreement, countries commit to Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) assessed every five years. China, a major contributor to global warming, has made significant efforts to reduce carbon emissions and achieve carbon neutrality, a key strategy for sustainable development. However, there is a lack of adequate attention to embodied emission reduction in rural residential construction, despite a surge in building to improve living standards. This paper evaluated the feasibility of applying a multi-ribbed composite wall structure (MRCWS) in rural China through a village service project. A full-scale shaking table test was conducted to study its seismic performance. Carbon emissions were analyzed using process-based life cycle assessment (P-LCA) and the emission-factor approach (EFA), while costs were estimated using life cycle costing (LCC) and the direct cost method (DCM). These analyses focused on sub-projects and specific structural members to validate the superiority of this prefabricated structure over common brick masonry. MRCWS blocks were prefabricated by mixing wheat straw with aerocrete, utilizing agricultural by-products from local farmlands, thus reducing both construction-related carbon emissions and agricultural waste treatment costs. Results show that this novel precast masonry structure exhibits strong seismic resistance, complying with fortification limitations. Its application can reduce embodied carbon emissions and costs by approximately 6% and 10%, respectively, during materialization phases compared to common brick masonry. This new prefabricated building product has significant potential for reducing carbon emissions and costs in rural housing construction while meeting seismic requirements. The recycling of agricultural waste highlights its adaptability, especially in rural areas.

Assessing construction process optimization and efficiency is crucial for the industry, yet quantitative methods for comparison are lacking. We propose the process matching degree (PMD) to quantitatively assess construction processes, enhancing efficiency and sustainability. Five primary indicators—regulations, environment, equipment, components, and organization—were identified, each of which were initially weighted equally using the weighted criteria approach (WCA). To refine the assessment, we conducted a questionnaire survey to adjust these weights based on expert feedback. Three sub-indicators were introduced for each primary indicator to increase granularity. The PMD’s operability was verified through two cases study involving BIM-simulated and real construction processes. The light-steel-structure building’s PMD values were 68 and 58 points, and the concrete structure’s PMD was 88.25, respectively, and the reasons for these differences were analyzed. This paper introduces PMD, its evaluation indicators, and calculation method, and verifies its feasibility through cases studies and expert questionnaire surveys, providing a comprehensive PMD research methodology.