Abstract The growing demand for sustainable construction, driven by climate change and urban expansion, highlights the urgent need for next generation building materials that enhance energy efficiency while supporting environmental goals. Traditional materials often fall short in addressing dynamic thermal loads, resource efficiency, and occupant comfort. This review investigates recent advancements in energy-efficient and climate responsive building materials, focusing on their insulation properties, thermal regulation, durability, and ecological impact. The objective is to assess the performance, benefits, and limitations of materials such as phase change materials (PCMs), aerogels, vacuum insulation panels, nanocomposites, and bio-based alternatives including straw, cork, and recycled steel. Based on findings from experimental, numerical, and analytical studies, these materials demonstrate significant potential to reduce energy consumption, improve indoor thermal comfort, and contribute to low-carbon construction practices. However, challenges such as high upfront costs, scalability issues, and lack of standardized performance metrics remain. The review recommends prioritizing life-cycle performance assessments, cost-effective production, and integration into building codes to support practical deployment. This work provides actionable insights for architects, engineers, and policymakers aiming to implement energy smart and climate-resilient design strategies through advanced material selection.
Bal et al. (Thu,) studied this question.
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