Fundamental design parameters causing ventilation inequality in dormitory complexes: A numerical and field study
August 2026
•This study analyzes how building height and layout affect ventilation equity.•CFD simulations and field wind measurements assess indoor-outdoor ventilation.•Bayesian-optimized XGBoost and SHAP identify...
Adverse reactions of workers to the use of personal protective equipment in pharmaceutical factories: A cross-sectional survey
August 2026
•Six categories of adverse reactions in pharmaceutical factories were analyzed.•The association between PPE use and adverse reactions was determined.•There was a prevalence of respiratory symptoms (84...
A novel air-cooled based desuperheating approach for maximizing sustainable energy generation potential from ultra-low grade waste heat – energy, exergy and environmental (3E) evaluation
August 2026
•An air-cooled desuperheating system is proposed for waste heat recovery below 85 °C.•System performance is analyzed using energy, exergy, and environmental (3E) metrics.•R410a-R141b is identified as...
Numerical analysis of counter-flow converging channels for uniform temperature distribution in PV panels to enhance energy conversion efficiency
August 2026
•Counterflow converging channels enhance PV cooling efficiency.•Most converging channel cut temperature by 23.73 K at 1050 W/m².•Standard deviation fell from 1.7944 K to 1.1131 K in optimized design.•Higher...
Balancing accuracy and efficiency in multi-step building-level electric load forecasting: Deep learning vs. classical time-series models
August 2026
•Compares conventional vs. deep learning algorithms for multi-step load forecasts•Optimizes hyperparameters via BOA, enhancing performance without trial-and-error•BOA-LSTM model achieved top accuracy...
Operating performance of middle-deep coaxial borehole heat exchangers based on TRNSYS simulation
August 2026
•A middle-deep CBHE system with different operating modes is presented.•Introduced the module structure of TRNSYS simulation and built the model.•The accuracy of short-term simulation is verified by...
Solar regeneration in desiccant dehumidifier under variable flow & rotational conditions
August 2026
•Regeneration air for dehumidifier is heated using a parabolic solar collector.•Regeneration rises from 8 to 24 rpm of wheel rpm, & beyond this performance declines.•CO₂, TVOCs, and HCHO rise with regeneration...
Energy balance of mechanically ventilated photovoltaic double skin façade: A case study in summer
August 2026
•The mechanically ventilated photovoltaic double skin façade is studied in summer.•The forced airflow brings a better cooling effect, decreasing heat gain by 18.77 %.•The adoption of fans accompanies...
Assessment on the impact factors of outdoor thermal comfort among the elderly across diverse climate zones in China
August 2026
•Elderly people with similar thermal sensations experienced different OTC.•PET can be used to assess OTC across different climate zones within 22–30 °C.•Visual conditions were identified as significant...
Development of a parabolic trough collector-based solar oven with heat pipe for efficient drying of kitchen spices
August 2026
•A solar oven with heat pipe and PTC was developed for efficient spice drying.•The system achieved 55.57 % moisture reduction with a fan and 38.7 % without a fan.•The heat pipe effectively transferred...
Experimental study on phase change materials aided pipe-embedded wall for energy efficiency in buildings
August 2026
•Novel PCW system with PCMs improves building energy efficiency.•Achieves high energy savings using low-grade heat and cooling sources.•Experiments show enhanced comfort and thermal stability in varied...
MLP-based dynamic fouling prediction and health monitoring for energy-efficient operation of plate heat exchangers in smart heating systems
August 2026
•MLP-based fouling prediction model (R²=0.9484) enables real-time system monitoring.•Dynamic fouling-temperature mapping optimizes cleaning to reduce energy waste.•Health Condition Value (HCV) quantifies...
Breaking-down building design problems with decomposition approaches: A review
August 2026
•Examining the role of decomposition in building design.•Evaluating the applicability of decomposition approaches for different design problems.•Conducting a comparative performance analysis of decomposition...
Towards a hybrid retrofit planning framework: A data-driven tool for energy retrofit in residential buildings
August 2026
•Developed tool evaluates retrofit impact and provides real-time cost estimates.•The surrogate model predicts buildings’ energy performance with over 81 % accuracy.•Data-driven and parametric models...
Thermal performance of bio-based phase change material encapsulated in a bamboo wall for residential buildings: A field experiment
August 2026
•Two identical bamboo rooms—with and without CO-PCM—were compared.•The usage of CO-PCM reduced the temperature peak inside the room.•West-side bamboo panels release more heat compared to other sides.•CO-PCM...
Study on the improvement of indoor thermal environment and enhancement of photovoltaic power generation performance by the self-driven ventilation of the passive SC-PV-EAHE system
August 2026
•Proposed and optimized a solar chimney-PV-earth-air heat exchanger system via GA.•Over the daily cycle, achieved max 11.17 °C cooling, 1.43 % efficiency gain.•Over the annual cycle, Max temperature...
Personalised environmental Control Systems (PECS) usage thresholds: A dynamic simulation approach to assess energy, cost, and emissions saving
August 2026
•Detailed simulation framework to evaluate PECS–building performance.•Dynamic simulations tested PECS across varied building scenarios.•Energy, cost, and emissions analysed under diverse HVAC and PECS...
Rapid Risk Prioritization of Indoor Exposure to Semi-Volatile Organic Compounds Using a Novel Steady-state Inter-phase Partitioning Model
Available online 17 July 2026
•A novel steady-state model was developed for indoor SVOC partitioning.•Particle-dust kinetic coupling and indoor environmental effects were included.•Multi-phase SVOC levels can be reconstructed from...
Comprehensive analysis of techno-economic and environmental performances on renewable integrated energy system with heating, cooling, and power for micro-communities
Available online 16 July 2026
•A source-storage-load integrated system for micro-communities is proposed.•A control strategy for techno-economic-environmental performance enhancement.•Optimal configuration for dual climate demand...
Nanoscale gas-water mixed ions for multifunctional air purification in built environments: a paradigm shift towards active air treatment
Available online 13 July 2026
•GWMI marks a paradigm shift from passive to active indoor air purification.•GWMI enables active, multifunctional purification of microbes, PM and odours.•Nanoscale droplets act as mobile ROS carriers...
Coupled effects of indoor lighting and thermal conditions on cognitive performance, physiological, and subjective responses: A systematic review
Available online 10 July 2026
•Light and thermal pathways suggest a physiological basis for coupling.•Temperature dominates cognitive performance, with an optimum at 22–24 °C.•Illuminance of 500–1000 lx enhances attention in neutral...
Keeping it simple: Field testing and techno-economic assessment of a low-cost secondary quad glazing for enhanced energy efficiency in buildings
June 2026
•Secondary quad glazing cuts energy use by 11.7 % over traditional double glazing.•Quad glazing maintains higher internal temperatures and lower heat flux.•Quad glazing significantly reduces condensation,...
The physiological and psychological impact of artificial windows on office workers during working phases: Cognitive performance and productivity
June 2026
•Artificial windows are evaluated by referring real windows and no windows.•Artificial windows achieved the highest lighting comfort and acceptability.•Artificial windows matched or surpassed real windows...
Exploring an occupant-involved closed-loop wearable sensing system and online tuning for individualized thermal preference
June 2026
•Enhancing thermal comfort data collection via feedback loop integration.•Multimodal sensing interfaced with diverse platforms for diverse groups of people.•A closed-loop framework for predictive and...
Underground plant factory in a mine tunnel – Part 1: Conceptual design and thermal simulation
June 2026
•No research addresses underground plant factory design and thermal simulation.•This study developed a technology for energy-efficient underground plant factories.•Underground mine tunnels provide suitable...