AI-Driven Thermal Systems for Energy Efficiency and Environmental Sustainability

Closes: 29 Mar 2027

Journal: Technological Sustainability

Guest editor(s)

Ibrahim Ademola Fetuga, Dr. Temitope Olubanjo Kehinde, Ifeoluwa Awotunde, Seyi Rufus Oluwadare

Introduction

Thermal systems are central to the environmental performance of modern engineering. Heating, cooling, refrigeration, heat pumps, thermal storage, waste heat recovery, heat exchangers and industrial process heat consume a large share of global energy and are directly linked to emissions, resource use and operating cost. As climate conditions become more severe and energy systems move toward low-carbon supply, the design and operation of thermal technologies must become more adaptive, efficient and measurable. Artificial intelligence can support this transition when it is applied as an engineering tool rather than as a generic digital label.

This special issue focuses on AI-driven thermal systems from the perspective of energy efficiency and environmental sustainability. It seeks technically rigorous papers that show how machine learning, optimization, control, digital twins, physics-informed modelling, data analytics and intelligent monitoring can improve thermal performance, reduce energy consumption, support low-carbon operation and extend equipment life. The emphasis is on real contribution to engineering knowledge: validated models, experimentally supported findings, transparent datasets, physically meaningful performance indicators and clear sustainability outcomes. The Special Issue also welcomes critical and comparative studies that examine the limitations, trade-offs, failure cases, computational energy costs, data-quality challenges, validation gaps, rebound effects, and situations where AI does not lead to meaningful sustainability gains.

The issue invites studies on buildings, industrial processes, refrigeration and cold chains, heat pumps, HVAC, thermal energy storage, renewable thermal systems, waste heat recovery and advanced thermal management. Contributions may be computational, experimental, analytical or application-oriented, provided they demonstrate a clear link between AI-based methods and measurable environmental benefit.By bringing together researchers in energy systems, heat transfer, control and sustainable technology, this issue will highlight how intelligent thermal systems can contribute to reduced emissions, better resource efficiency and practical pathways for environmentally responsible engineering.

List of topic areas

• AI-based modelling, control and optimization of HVAC, heat pumps and refrigeration systems.
• Physics-informed machine learning and digital twins for heat transfer and thermal-system operation.
• Predictive maintenance, fault detection and diagnostics for thermal equipment.
• Energy-efficient and low-emission industrial thermal processes.
• AI-assisted design of heat exchangers, waste heat recovery systems and thermal networks.
• Thermal energy storage, phase-change materials and AI-enabled charging/discharging strategies.
• Renewable thermal energy integration, solar thermal systems and hybrid thermal-electric systems.
• Sustainable cold-chain technologies and low-GWP refrigeration.
• Life-cycle, exergy, energy and emissions assessment of AI-optimized thermal systems.
• Experimental validation, benchmark datasets and reproducible AI workflows for thermal engineering.
• Climate-adaptive thermal management for buildings, equipment and infrastructure.
• * Critical assessments of AI-driven thermal systems, including limitations, failure cases, computational energy use, validation gaps, rebound effects, and negative or inconclusive sustainability outcomes.

Submissions Information

Submissions are made using ScholarOne Manuscripts. Registration and access are available at: https://mc.manuscriptcentral.com/techs 

Author guidelines must be strictly followed. Please see: https://www.emeraldgrouppublishing.com/journal/techs#author-guidelines 

Authors should select (from the drop-down menu) the special issue title at the appropriate step in the submission process, i.e. in response to ““Please select the issue you are submitting to”.

Submitted articles must not have been previously published, nor should they be under consideration for publication anywhere else, while under review for this journal.

Key deadlines

Opening date for manuscripts submissions: 03/08/2026

Closing date for manuscripts submission: 29/03/2027

Email for submissions: ibfet1@morgan.edu

We would like to inform our Brazilian colleagues and all other interested parties that Technological Sustainability is already ranked B1 in Qualis Capes journal rankings.

The journal seems to have been ranked in many different platforms. But gathering such information is not always straightforward. However Thanks to all the support from SRRNet members and international audience, the journal continues to develop and we anticipate more such notifications in the near future.

This of course is in addition to the rankings such Scopus, Scimago Q2, ABDC and others.

When considering submission to the journal please bear in mind that TechS covers the areas of engineering and technology.

SRRNet’s journal Technological Sustainability (TechS) continues to see growing success within academic community. While we appreciate the time and effort colleagues worldwide dedicate to submitting their research, we would like to remind authors that this journal specifically focuses on the fields of Engineering and Technology.

It is essential to consider this technical focus before submitting your manuscript. For research addressing the social or economic dimensions of sustainability, SRRNet offers alternative outlets, including our world-renowned journal, Social Responsibility Journal, and various book series dedicated to high-quality articles in these areas.

We strongly recommend reviewing the revised full aims, scope, and indicative coverage here before beginning your submission process.

Congratulations to the winners of 2025 Literati awards as the outstanding reviewers and the author(s) of the outstanding paper. Find the list of the winners here.

Technological sustainability is the main theme of this podcast episode. The discussion features three eminent contributors whose work is published in Technological Sustainability (TechS), an official journal of the Social Responsibility Research Network. Each expert addresses various aspects of the complex relationship between technology and sustainability, including the impact of emerging digital tools, green technologies, and the societal implications of innovation.

In this podcast episode, the contributors share their unique perspectives, drawing on their extensive academic and professional backgrounds. Furthermore, they discuss the motivations behind their research, the methodologies they employed, and the practical implications of their findings. As a result, listeners will gain insight into the current trends in sustainability research, as well as the diverse opinions that exist within the field. The podcast provides a balanced platform where both favourable and critical viewpoints are presented, encouraging thoughtful debate and further inquiry.

One contributor highlights the potential for technology to drive positive change, citing examples of successful sustainable initiatives powered by innovation. Another raises important concerns about unintended consequences and the need for robust ethical frameworks to guide technological advancement. The third contributor synthesizes these perspectives, emphasizing the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration in addressing the pressing challenges facing our world today.

​Here is the link to the podcast

In this video Prof David Crowther, the president of SRRNet, invited researchers and scholars to contribute to Technological Sustainability. SRRNet members and the journal contributors always help the wider appearance of Technological Sustainability (TechS) in the media. Find more videos where SRRNet members from different parts of the world introduce the journal here