Urbanization leads to the expansion of urban areas and increased population density, which has a negative impact on natural resources, including green spaces. To address these environmental challenges, various green measures and sustainable development practices offer environmental, economic and societal benefits. This article provides an overview of different types of green roofs, discusses their advantages and disadvantages, and outlines current legislation on biologically active areas in new residential developments. A residential project in the Ursus district of Warsaw was used as a case study to compare intensive and extensive green roofs. The project involved the installation of vegetation on the roof of an underground garage and later on the roof of the building, with detailed descriptions of the roof layers and vegetation used. One experiment examined seasonal variations in water runoff from green roofs. Three test sites simulated different seasons, with substrates in containers and vegetation watered twice daily. Results showed that spring, with temperatures around 15°C, provided optimal conditions for green roof establishment, while winter posed challenges due to frost. Both intensive and extensive green roofs have positive environmental, social and economic impacts, supporting the pillars of sustainable development. Examples of global green infrastructure further illustrate these benefits.

The building sector is a major contributor to global energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions, and multi-family residential buildings play an important role in urban decarbonization and the transition toward sustainable cities and societies. This study proposes decarbonization-oriented case studies for selecting heating, ventilation, and domestic hot water systems by integrating environmental, economic, and social criteria aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 7 and SDG 11. This research compares selected conventional and low-carbon building-level heating, ventilation, and domestic hot water systems, including gas boilers and heat pumps integrated with renewable energy and heat recovery. The evaluation is based on a calculation-based energy performance assessment using a quasi-static monthly heat balance approach, economic indicator analysis, and environmental assessment based on primary, final, and useful energy demand and CO₂ emissions. Cooling energy demand was not included in the assessment because the analyzed scenarios were limited to heating, ventilation, and domestic hot water preparation. Furthermore, the social implications are examined, considering energy affordability, long-term operating costs, and the potential to mitigate energy poverty. The results indicate that low-carbon HVAC systems, particularly heat pump systems integrated with renewable energy sources, significantly reduce CO₂ emissions and primary energy consumption compared to conventional solutions. Although they require a higher initial investment, they can achieve lower life cycle costs over the building’s lifetime. The study concludes that holistic, decarbonization-oriented technologies can support cost-effective, socially responsible pathways toward low-carbon, energy-efficient multi-family residential buildings and sustainable urban development.

Improving the energy efficiency of residential buildings is essential for achieving global climate goals and reducing environmental impact. This study analyzes the Total Performance approach using the example of a modern semi-detached house built by a Polish developer, as an example. The building is designed with integrated systems that minimize energy consumption while maintaining resident comfort. The building is equipped with an air-to-water heat pump, underfloor heating, mechanical ventilation with heat recovery, and automatic temperature control systems. Energy efficiency was assessed using ArCADia–TERMOCAD 8.0 software in accordance with Polish Technical Specifications (TS) and verified by monitoring real-time electricity consumption during the heating season. The results show a PED from non-renewable sources of 54.05 kWh/(m²·year), representing a 23% reduction compared to the Polish regulatory limit of 70 kWh/(m²·year). Real-time monitoring conducted from December 2024 to April 2025 confirmed these results, indicating an actual energy demand of approximately 1771 kWh/year. Domestic hot water (DHW) preparation accounted for the largest share of energy consumption. Despite its dependence on grid electricity, the building has the infrastructure to enable future photovoltaic (PV) installation, offering further potential for emissions reduction. The results confirm that Total Performance strategies are not only compliant with applicable standards, but also economically and environmentally viable. They represent a scalable model for sustainable residential construction, in line with the European Union’s (EU’s) decarbonization policy and the goals of the European Green Deal.

It is imperative to take pro-ecological actions that are beneficial to health, as well as adopt sustainable development practices in the face of the current environmental challenges facing humanity. It is crucial that environmental protection is implemented by all people on Earth, because the future is worrying – especially for what will be left for future generations. Green building solutions are being implemented worldwide, but not always in an appropriate manner. All green architecture integrates sustainable development and conservation, regardless of location. This article summarises and characterises the concept of the 6E (economic, energy-efficient, ecological, elastic, aesthetic, ergonomic) ecological building concept and the 3R (reduce, reuse, recycle) principle. It also presents an analysis of two ecological buildings in Poland. The first is a wooden building located in the village of Podgać, which serves as an example of combining modern design and ecology. It was built in harmony with nature and blends in with the natural environment of the forest. A half-timbered house in the village of Jarzębia Łąka is the second example where traditional construction, modern technical solutions and environmental protection come together. The presented project examples were examined in terms of ecological building principles and then compared with the 6E concept and the 3R principle. This paper presents a comprehensive study of two distinct eco-friendly building structures. The investigation covers technical characterisation, compliance with the 6E concept, comparison of ecological efficiency, and conclusions with recommendations. The Dom Baby Jagi [Baba Jaga House] in the village Podgać showcases a harmonious blend of simplicity, functionality, and economy, utilising wood with insulation for year-round habitation. It integrates renewable energy sources and rainwater harvesting, contributing to its ecological sustainability. Meanwhile, the half-timbered building in Jarzębia Łąka employs clay-straw bricks for construction, emphasising economic and environmental benefits with vapour-permeable walls and efficient insulation. Both structures exemplify ergonomic design, eco-friendly construction practices, and aesthetic integration with their natural surroundings. These findings underscore the importance of incorporating environmentally conscious solutions in modern architecture to address contemporary environmental challenges and promote sustainable development.

Celem artykułu jest określenie uwarunkowań lokalizacjiinstalacji fotowoltaicznych na terenach zdegradowanych,ze szczególnym uwzględnieniem składowisk odpadówjako obiektów o ograniczonej dostępności inwestycyjnej i podwyższonychwymaganiach środowiskowych. Praca ma charakterprzeglądowo-metodyczny i została uzupełniona eksploracyjnymstudium przypadku istniejącej instalacji PV na składowisku odpadówkomunalnych w Zakroczymiu, opartym na wizji lokalneji dokumentacji fotograficznej. Analizę uporządkowano wedługkryteriów formalno-środowiskowych, geotechnicznych, konstrukcyjnychi eksploatacyjnych. Wyniki wskazują, że powodzenie inwestycjizależy nie tylko od dostępności terenu i parametrówtechnicznych instalacji, lecz także od zgodności z obowiązkamiwynikającymi z wcześniejszego sposobu użytkowania obiektu.Szczególne znaczenie mają zachowanie funkcji ochronnychskładowiska, ograniczenie ingerencji w jego warstwy techniczneoraz zapewnienie dostępu do punktów kontrolnych i infrastrukturytowarzyszącej przez cały okres eksploatacji. W konsekwencjiserwisowalność instalacji należy traktować jako element ocenywykonalności, a nie wyłącznie jako zagadnienie eksploatacyjne.

Population ageing and the need to provide affordable, healthy, and energy-efficient housing represent important sustainability challenges in many European countries. Sustainable senior housing should not only reduce environmental impacts through low-carbon construction technologies but also ensure high indoor environmental quality and occupant well-being. This paper presents a preliminary assessment of predicted thermal comfort and local thermal discomfort in a prototype senior home constructed a prefabricated timber-based building system incorporating renewable and recycled materials and designed to support low operational energy demand. The research forms part of a broader development study of technology, in which indoor thermal conditions were monitored in a prototype building consisting of two 30 m² residential units intended for older adults. Predicted thermal comfort was evaluated using the PMV (Predicted Mean Vote) and PPD (Predicted Percentage of Dissatisfied) indices together with local thermal discomfort criteria. The analysis was based on short-term winter and summer measurement campaigns conducted in the prototype building. The results indicated category B thermal environment conditions in both winter and summer according to ISO 7730. In winter, local discomfort associated with a cool floor corresponded to category C, while summer conditions met category B requirements without significant local discomfort. The findings provide preliminary evidence that timber-based low-carbon construction technologies can support acceptable indoor thermal conditions while addressing environmental and social sustainability objectives related to an ageing population. The study also identifies the need for longer monitoring campaigns and future investigations involving older occupants to validate actual thermal sensation and further optimize sustainable senior housing solutions. Since the building was unoccupied during the measurements, the results should be interpreted as a prediction of predicted thermal comfort conditions rather than an assessment of thermal sensations experienced by older adults.