Innovative Strategies for Energy Efficiency in the Construction Industry

Abstract

The construction industry has consistently been among the largest consumers of energy globally. Construction uses between 20–40% of the total energy demand in many developed countries. Additionally, the construction industry is responsible for 36% of the world's energy-related greenhouse gas emissions. As we move further into a period of urbanization, coupled with rapid growth in emerging economies, the imperative for energy-efficient, sustainable construction is even greater. This research engages with the relevant literature posing a systematic review and synthesis of recent advances in energy-efficient strategies in the construction sector, with a focus on emerging materials, passive and active design strategies, smart technologies, and renewable energy technologies or schemes for policy enabling. This study employs systematic review methods, screening 560 academic records from 2015–2024, devoted to energy efficient strategies within construction contexts, arriving at 35 quality studies in different contexts around the world. The study indicated, in its findings, the transformative advantages in energy reduction that can accrue from AI driven smart building systems, Digital Twins, new advanced materials such as phase-change products, and hybrid renewable energy systems that can reduce operational energy and embodied energy. Emerging challenges were noted around safety on green construction deliveries, high front-end investment costs, legacy skills shortages, and slow transition to integrated digital technologies. The research concludes with recommendations targeted at a variety of stakeholders and a SWOT analysis prepared to aid policymakers, designers, engineers, and project leaders in addressing barriers and scaling sustainable energy-efficient buildings. This paper contributes to the growing discourse on resilient, future-ready construction models that balance environmental, economic, and social sustainability imperatives.