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Dynamic building envelopes integrated with renewable energy sources, termed Dynamic and Renewable Source Building Envelopes (DREBE), provide an innovative approach to optimizing building envelope designs. Yet, these systems are not mature enough and not widely adopted in the industry and few literature resources are employed to understand them. These systems dynamically respond and adapt to various environmental, energy, and occupancy demands for higher energy efficiency and comfort levels compared to traditional building envelopes while simultaneously producing energy. Their potential in climate change mitigation and fostering sustainable urban development warrants great attention from industry and urban planners. Especially in positive energy districts, which aim to reach net-positive energy goals through utilizing smart energy efficient building systems on the district level. This paper reviews innovative systems like dynamic photovoltaic shading devices and phase change materials and evaluates their performance by answering two research questions, what are the current DBE trends and are they feasible in achieving net-positive energy consumption? The analysis conducted reveals the dominance of solar-based dynamic renewable energy systems and a great need for alternatives. The study suggests that alternatives like wind as a renewable energy source should be studied with dynamic systems. Moreover, the study highlights current research gaps including insufficient data on long-term application and economic costs associated with such systems. To address this gap, the study suggests exploring in depth some of these systems and then branching into various combinations of dynamic envelope systems with multiple renewable or adaptive components to further enhance the overall building performance. By synthesizing the current body of literature, this paper gives insights into advancing the application of the dynamic building envelope systems and highlights their crucial role in the future of sustainable urban environments. 

Building-integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) systems blend energy generation with traditional architectural facade functions, promoting the development of zero-energy buildings by reducing energy consumption, lowering greenhouse gas emissions, and enhancing aesthetic value. Despite these benefits, the integration of photovoltaic technology into building materials introduces challenges, notably in ensuring structural integrity, maintaining thermal performance, and securing long-term durability under diverse environmental conditions. This review examines current standards and building codes relevant to BIPV windows, highlighting the necessity for testing protocols that encompass combined stressors from extreme weather events exacerbated by climate change. Through a case study focused on Singapore, the review underscores the rising frequency of combined heat and wind events, advocating for robust standards and adaptive policies. The paper identifies critical research gaps and proposes future directions to enhance the reliability and performance of BIPV systems, aiming to solidify their role in sustainable building practices. 

Climate change leads to frequent extreme temperature events, making cities vulnerable to severe heatwaves. Therefore, this study aims to provide a systematic and overarching review of the urban planning and design policy interventions for heatwave management. This study used a series of key terms to search for relevant studies in three databases, including Web of Science, ScienceDirect, and Wiley, and then identified 28 articles published between 2007 and 2023 after several inclusion and exclusion criteria. After a systematic review, 15 policy interventions for heatwave management were summarized from the built environment level and building level. Cooling mechanisms and the scope of application were discussed. The results of this study provide policymakers with comprehensive guidance on sustainable urban design and planning for heatwave management.