The 2nd International Symposium on Smart Materials for Energy-efficient Built Environment Control (SMBEC 2026), Xi'an, China, 31 May to 2 June 2026

IEA EBC Annex 92 - SMBEC 2026 successfully concluded in early June! Over the 2-day conference, we were delighted to welcome more than 200 researchers, academics, and industry experts from leading universities and institutions around the world. The symposium featured over 50 high-quality presentations, showcasing cutting-edge research on smart materials for building energy efficiency, indoor environmental control, thermal energy storage, etc.

One of the most inspiring aspects of the event was witnessing the growing convergence of expertise from materials chemistry, building physics, and building technology. This interdisciplinary engagement reflects the increasing recognition that smart materials can play a transformative role in creating more sustainable, resilient, and energy-efficient built environments. The lively discussions, exchange of ideas, and emerging collaborations throughout the symposium highlighted both the rapid progress and the exciting future of this field.

SMBEC 2026 will serve not only as a platform for sharing knowledge, but also as a catalyst for new partnerships, innovative research, and lasting international collaboration. We look forward to continuing this journey together and seeing the field reach new heights in the years to come.

More pictures from the conference (click)

 

 

The 1st International Symposium on Smart Materials for Energy-efficient Built Environment Control (SMBEC2025), Paris, France, 10-11 June 2025

 

Energy consumption for environmental control in buildings, such as heating, cooling, and indoor air quality (IAQ) management—has become a significant driver of global energy demand. Smart materials, including metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), phase change materials (PCMs), and hydrogels, offer transformative potential by enhancing energy and mass transport. These materials can improve the energy efficiency of technologies for heating, cooling, air purification, and thermal storage. Prominent international researchers in building science, chemistry, materials science, and HVAC engineering convene to explore the theoretical foundations and cutting-edge applications of smart materials for energy-efficient environmental control in the built environment.

Chairs:

Prof. Menghao Qin (DTU, Denmark)

Prof. Christian Serre (ENS, ESPCI Paris, France)

Prof. Jensen Zhang (Syracuse University, USA)

 

 

Kick-off workshop for new IEA EBC Annex 92 - Smart materials for energy-efficient heating, cooling and IAQ control in residential buildings, May 2024, Syracuse, U.S.A.