Emerging Trends in Energy and Environmental Design Integrating New Services and Tools for Smart Cities and Smart Buildings

This Reprint brings together different perspectives on sustainable energy transitions, highlighting the importance of integrating social, technological, and spatial approaches. The papers explore key themes such as user behaviour in residential energy use, renewable energy communities, smart cities and buildings, energy modelling at the urban scale, and the role of critical raw materials in long-term planning. The contributions included in the volume support the identification of multiple strategies and research lines for the future of the topic, from bottom-up strategies to innovative storage systems and building retrofits. One of the main aspects emphasized is the need for systemic thinking and multi-scalar coordination across levels and techniques. It provides a critical perspective into how urban environments, infrastructures, and citizen engagement can interact to accelerate decarbonization and support more resilient and inclusive energy systems.