Concrete is the most widely used construction material globally and is responsible for approximately 8% of global CO₂ emissions due to its cement content. At the same time, buildings account for nearly 40% of total energy consumption. In response, initiatives like the European Union’s Nearly Zero Energy Buildings (NZEB) directive push for energy-efficient and climate-neutral buildings across their lifecycle. This transition demands materials and structures that are not only low carbon but also long durable and adaptable to future climatic and usage conditions. In this context, low-carbon materials and technologies, including blended cements, recycled aggregates, bio-based admixtures, can offer a viable solution in this context. When integrated with resilient structural design and predictive computational tools, they open new avenues for next generation sustainable infrastructure. This Research Topic opens this shift, emphasizing low-CO2 concrete and resilient construction systems as key pillars in achieving buildings’ decarbonization goals.

This Research Topic looks for accelerating the decarbonization of the built environment by focusing on low-carbon concrete, usage of recycling components and design of resilient structural systems. The goal is to advance the knowledge in the design, formulation, and application of cementitious materials with reduced environmental impact, including innovative binders (e.g., LC³, AAMs), recycled constituents, and bio-based components. Emphasis will also be placed on improving the durability, mechanical performance, and long-term responses of structural systems. Contributions addressing computational modeling of material behavior, deterioration, and combined energy-structure interaction are especially encouraged, as they support performance-based design and life-cycle cost optimizations. This call also values cross-cutting approaches that couple sustainability and energy responses with resilience perspectives.

We welcome contributions that explore the intersection of low-carbon cementitious materials, structural resilience, and sustainable practices. Specific topics of interest include:
i) development of low-carbon concretes and novel binders
ii) Structural resilience and durability of cement-based systems
iii) Eco-efficient materials using recycled or bio-based components
iv) Performance-based design and digital twins for resilient infrastructure
v) Lifecycle assessment (LCA) and sustainability indicators in concrete structures and buildings
vi) Computational modeling for long-term performance prediction
vii) Case studies on NZEB implementation using low-carbon materials.

We are interested in original research articles, reviews, design studies and modeling work.

Manuscripts highlighting multidisciplinary approaches in low-carbon construction are particularly welcome.

Are you interested in contributing a manuscript to this Research Topic?

Low-Carbon Concrete and Resilient Structures for Nearly Zero Emission Buildings