Hyeonsoo Kim | Building Energy Optimization | Best Researcher Award

Published on by Architecture Engineers

Prof. Hyeonsoo Kim | Building Energy Optimization | Best Researcher Award

Assistant Professor | Seoul National University of Science and Technology | South Korea

Dr. Hyeonsoo Kim is a Postdoctoral Researcher at the Korea Institute of Civil Engineering and Building Technology (KICT) in the Building Energy Research Center, specializing in building energy systems and sustainable architecture. He earned his Ph.D. in Architecture from the University of Michigan, where his research focused on the economic feasibility of achieving net-zero energy and emission buildings in the United States. His professional background includes extensive work on projects related to carbon-neutral city realization, smart energy systems, and thermal break technologies for improving building performance. Dr. Kim has co-authored several impactful publications in leading journals such as Applied Energy, Journal of Cleaner Production, and Energy Conversion and Management: X, contributing significantly to the fields of net-zero energy building design, emission trading frameworks, and renewable-integrated heat pump systems. He has served in various academic leadership roles, including Editorial Board Member and Academic Director for the KIEAE Journal and Guest Editor for Buildings (MDPI). In addition, he has contributed as a moderator, instructor, and project lead in national and international collaborations advancing green building technologies. Dr. Kim holds the LEED Accredited Professional certification, reflecting his commitment to sustainable and high-performance building design. His research impact includes 52 citations, 5 publications, and an h-index of 3.

Profiles: Scopus | ORCID | Google Scholar

Featured Publications

1. Kim H., Economic Feasibility of Achieving Net-Zero Energy in Residential Buildings in the USA. 2023.

2. Junghans L., Kim H., Evaluation of multiple predictive control strategies to optimally use building thermal mass to reduce annual operation costs and associated GHG emissions. J. Build. Eng., 2025, 112, 113963.

3. Kim H., Junghans L., Economic feasibility of achieving net-zero emission building (NZEB) by applying solar and geothermal energy sources to heat pump systems: A case in the United States. J. Clean. Prod., 2023, 416, 137822.

4. Kim H., Junghans L., Integrative economic framework incorporating the Emission Trading Scheme (ETS) for US residential energy systems. Energy Convers. Manag.: X, 2022, 14, 100197.

5. Kim H., Lim J.W., Predicting the economic feasibility of solar-based net-zero emission buildings (NZEBs) in the United States non-residential sector. J. Clean. Prod., 2024, 470, 143272.

Dr. Hyeonsoo Kim’s research advances global sustainability by integrating renewable energy systems and intelligent control strategies to achieve net-zero energy buildings. His work contributes to reducing carbon emissions, guiding policy and industry practices toward resilient, energy-efficient, and environmentally responsible urban development.

Monica Mateo Garcia | Energy Performance | Women Researcher Award

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Dr. Monica Mateo Garcia | Energy Performance | Women Researcher Award

Associate Professor | Birmingham City University | United Kingdom

Dr. Monica Mateo-Garcia is an Associate Professor in Sustainable Built Environment at Birmingham City University, where she leads the Centre for Future Homes and serves as REF Unit of Assessment Lead for Architecture and Built Environment. An architect by training and chartered member of the Professional Association of Architects of the Valencian Community, her expertise spans low-carbon building design, post-occupancy evaluation, indoor environment quality, and energy-efficient retrofitting. She has extensive experience across academia and industry in the UK and Spain, including leading EU-funded projects on low-carbon refurbishment and innovative technologies for sustainable construction. Dr. Mateo-Garcia’s research has produced numerous peer-reviewed publications in journals such as Energy for Sustainable Development, Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, and Engineering Failure Analysis, contributing to knowledge on healthy, resilient, and net-zero-ready buildings. Her academic leadership is evident through PhD supervision, international conference organisation, and editorial and review roles within scientific committees. A recipient of the Knowledge Exchange Award for Best Research with Public and Third Sector and multiple Constructing Excellence and Building Excellence Awards, she is also an active member of national expert panels including UKIEG, NHBC Foundation, and UKGBC taskforces. Her ongoing work advances evidence-based pathways to net-zero housing, promoting climate-resilient design and healthier indoor environments through innovative research and practice. Her research impact includes 215 citations, 14 publications, and an h-index of 7.

Profiles: Scopus | ORCID | Google Scholar

Featured Publications

1. Mateo-Garcia M., Abdulkerim S., Nasır A., Alymany G., Simcock N., Impacts of limited fuel choices in Syrian refugee camps: A mixed-methods investigation into household energy practices and indoor air pollution. Energy for Sustainable Development, 2025, 85, 101640.

2. Roberts C.J., Edwards D.J., Hosseini M.R., Mateo-Garcia M., Post-occupancy evaluation: a review of literature. Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, 2019, 26(9), 2084–2106.

3. Ivorra S., Garcia-Barba J., Mateo M., Pérez-Carramiñana C., Maciá A., Partial collapse of a ventilated stone façade: Diagnosis and analysis of the anchorage system. Engineering Failure Analysis, 2013, 31, 290–301.

4. Ahmed A., McGough D., Mateo-Garcia M., Testing innovative technologies for energy-efficiency: Coventry University as a living lab. Entrepreneurship and Sustainability Issues, 2017, 4(3), 257–270.

5. Mohamed I.F., Edwards D.J., Mateo-Garcia M., Costin G., Thwala W.D.D., An investigation into the construction industry’s view on fire prevention in high-rise buildings post Grenfell. International Journal of Building Pathology and Adaptation, 2020, 38(3), 451–471.

Dr. Monica Mateo-Garcia’s work advances global sustainability through innovative research on low-carbon building design, post-occupancy evaluation, and healthy indoor environments. Her leadership in developing net-zero-ready housing and evidence-based retrofit strategies bridges science, industry, and policy, driving climate-resilient and socially equitable built environments.

Giuseppe Perfetto | Active Buildings | Excellence in Sustainable Architecture Award

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Mr. Giuseppe Perfetto | Active Buildings | Excellence in Sustainable Architecture Award

Executive Director | Solardesign |Italy

Giuseppe Perfetto is a Senior Architect, Sustainability Manager, and Academic Lecturer affiliated with the Polytechnic University of Turin, specializing in solar energy integration, building efficiency, and energy transition systems. With over twenty-five years of professional experience in architecture, renewable energy, and environmental engineering, he has led numerous large-scale solar PV, hydrogen, and zero-energy building projects across Italy and Europe. He has contributed to the advancement of sustainable architecture and municipal energy planning. His research focuses on Building-Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV), dynamic shading systems, and adaptive energy-efficient design, reflected in publications such as Optimizing Building Performance with Dynamic Photovoltaic Shading Systems: A Comparative Analysis of Six Adaptive Designs in Smart Cities and multiple IEEE conference proceedings. An active educator, he has co-supervised several master’s theses and taught at leading institutions on environmental technical physics and sustainable building systems. Recognized for his expertise, he serves on international scientific committees, including the IEEE Conference on Electrical and Power Engineering, and holds certifications as an Energy Manager and Building Physics Certifier. His numerous honors and leadership roles in professional associations underscore his ongoing commitment to innovation, education, and excellence in sustainable design and energy transition. His research impact includes 5 citations, 3 publications, and an h-index of 2.

Profile: Scopus

Featured Publication

1. Perfetto G., Optimizing Building Performance with Dynamic Photovoltaic Shading Systems: A Comparative Analysis of Six Adaptive Designs. Smart Cities, 2025, Open Access

Mr. Giuseppe Maria Perfetto’s work advances the integration of renewable energy and adaptive design within architecture, driving the transition toward energy-positive and climate-responsive buildings. His research fosters innovation that bridges science, industry, and sustainability, contributing to global efforts toward carbon-neutral, intelligent built environments.