The integration of advanced control strategies into building energy management systems (BEMS) is essential for achieving energy efficiency and sustaining thermal comfort. Model predictive control (MPC) has gained significant traction as a model-based approach capable of optimizing control actions by predicting future system behavior under dynamic conditions. The current review offers an in-depth analysis of MPC, combining its core theoretical foundations with a broad survey of impactful applications in buildings, for extracting key breakthroughs and trends that have defined the field over the past decade. Emphasis is placed on multiverse MPC configurations and their application across various BEMS frameworks integrating HVACs, energy storage, renewable energy, domestic hot water, electric vehicle charging, and lighting systems. A detailed evaluation of MPC key attributes is then conducted, based on essential aspects of MPC, such as algorithms, optimization solvers, baselines, performance indexes, and building types, as well as simulation tools that support system modeling and real-time validation. The study concludes by outlining key research trends and proposing future directions, with a strong emphasis on addressing real-world deployment challenges and advancing scalable, interoperable solutions on smart building ecosystems. According to the evaluation, MPC research is shifting from simple white-box setups to gray- and black-box models paired with metaheuristic or hybrid solvers, leveraging machine learning for forecasting and multi-objective optimization, but still lacking robustness, benchmarks, and real-world validation. Consequently, next-generation MPC is anticipated to evolve into adaptive, hybrid, and multi-agent frameworks that integrate forecasting and control, embed occupant behavior, enable grid-interactive flexibility, and support lightweight, explainable deployment in real building environments.

This study carries out a series of complex unsteady three-dimensional (3D) computational analyses that were validated by experimental tests to examine the performance enhancement of a cylindrical shell-and-coil ice storage enclosure by employing various spiral longitudinal fin geometries covering the heat transfer fluid (HTF) tubes throughout the transient process of solid-liquid phase change. The phase change material (PCM) in this work was selected to be water and the tubes and fins were chosen to be made of copper alloy. To study how this type of fin accelerates the charging process, several dimensionless parameters related to the spiral longitudinal fin geometries were defined, which included dimensionless fin length (Ω), count (Ψ), and thickness (Φ) parameters. Additionally, the impact of fin orientation was evaluated. The findings suggested that raising Ω from 0 to 0.719 reduces the solidification time by 42.29 %. Similarly, changing the Ψ from 0 to 6 expedites the process by 50 %. Regarding the changes of Φ, it was observed that even though the freezing dynamic was not sensitive to this parameter in the first half of the process, the effect was more pronounced throughout the second half. Furthermore, with identical heat transfer areas, horizontal fins outperformed the vertical ones by a marginal difference of 3.58 %, which was found to be because of the better distribution of fins within the container.

In this work, a flower-shaped shading system with integrated tracking photovoltaic, suitable for sustainable extensive urban coverages, is designed. Detailed photovoltaic energy yield simulations with a single-diode model approach are performed to disclose the potential of the proposed tracking photovoltaic shading device (PVSD). Simulations are performed with reference to a case study. A double-layer space truss is used to house the innovative modular photovoltaic tracking system, and the first application is envisaged for the coverage of a public market area of a sunny municipality in Southern Italy. By comparing it with the traditional photovoltaic fixed system, the results of the simulations show a steadier energy generation of the new PVSD, and it also provides better coverage with renewable energy during the hours of the day when the traditional system produces low electric energy. Lastly, an early interactive prototype of the PVSD system is presented. The tracking mechanism is carefully designed, 3D-printed at a small scale and tested with a motorized dynamic system controlled by a microcontroller board. The realization of the physical prototype and the engineering of the movement mechanism confirmed the feasibility and the correct functioning of the conceived system opening to real-scale applications.

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, ventilation in buildings was not always given its due importance. The World Health Organization has highlighted the important role of air exchange with the outdoors in improving the air quality in buildings; buildings should, therefore, be equipped with mechanical ventilation or adequate air conditioning systems. This paper aims to investigate different retrofit solutions for air conditioning, evaluating them in terms of energy consumption and cost and the impact of increased outdoor air exchange rates on countering the propagation of COVID-19; the latter is the main novelty of the paper. As a case study, we take an existing office building located in Central Italy that was previously not equipped with a mechanical ventilation system (a system with primary air was introduced during the study). The energy analysis was conducted using dynamic simulation software after validation through energy bills; energy and economic analyses were conducted considering different external-air exchange rates. An optimal number of outdoor air changes was found to mitigate the risk of COVID-19 infection, a finding in line with the international literature. The increase in air changes with outdoor air leads to a rise in energy consumption and costs. These values were evaluated for different air conditioning systems and operational schedules. These drawbacks can be made less significant by combining interventions in the system with energy-efficiency measures applied to the building envelope.