A biocultural pathway to carbon-negative schools: A neurocognitive-validated framework integrating heritage preservation and energy innovation

  • Yue Lyu orcid

    School of Civil Engineering, Shaoxing University, Shaoxing 312000, China

    School of Architecture & Environment, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China

    Huahui Engineering Design Group Co., Ltd., Shaoxing 312000, China
Article ID: 4020
DOI: https://doi.org/10.59400/be4020
Keywords: cultural entropy, neurocognitive validation, biocultural decarbonization, net-zero carbon building, sustainable public buildings, architectural robotics

Abstract

Semi-urban public buildings face a critical challenge in reconciling deep decarbonization with biocultural heritage preservation, a dilemma exacerbated by rural grid fragility and behavioral barriers. This study pioneers a neurocognitive-cultural entropy framework (Locality-Small Scale-Flexibility (LSF)) to resolve this conflict. The LSF establishes unprecedented synergies by robotically replicating Ming-era masonry, achieving minimal cultural entropy deviation (ΔH = 0.03 bits, p < 0.001)—a metric quantifying information loss in heritage feature transfer, where lower values indicate higher authenticity—and high structural similarity (Structural Similarity Index Measure (SSIM) = 0.93). The framework delivers dual breakthroughs: (1) Biocultural-Energy Transduction: Heritage-optimized photon vectors elevate building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) yield by 11.3%, while evoking a 21.3% increase in amygdala activation (t(31) = 4.2) that correlates with a 62.1 ± 0.8% reduction in lighting energy use intensity (EUI) (r = 0.82). (2) Systemic Non-Additivity: A synergy factor of Γ = −35.9 ± 0.07% (p < 0.001) integrates AI-driven renewables (1.29 GWh·yr−1, exceeding national thresholds by 61 ± 3%) and circular material systems (60.5 ± 2.0% embodied carbon reduction via 1,200 t of industrial byproducts). Deployed at China's first GB/T 51350-2019 Class I campus (18,700 m2), the LSF attains a net-negative carbon intensity of −14.24 kgCO₂e·m−2·yr−1. This performance surpasses the Brattørkaia Powerhouse (−8.7 kgCO₂e·m−2·yr−1) in grid resilience and the buildings at the National University of Singapore (NUS SDE) 1&3 in EUI reduction (85.3% vs. 80%). With a transferability index of Ψ = 0.89 across humid subtropical zones, this work provides a replicable blueprint for 1.2 million semi-urban schools globally, transforming cultural landscapes into carbon-negative civilization catalysts.

Published
2026-03-29
How to Cite
Lyu, Y. (2026). A biocultural pathway to carbon-negative schools: A neurocognitive-validated framework integrating heritage preservation and energy innovation. Building Engineering, 4(1). https://doi.org/10.59400/be4020
Issue
Vol. 4 No. 1 (2026)
Section
Article

Copyright (c) 2026 Yue Lyu

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

References

[1]Kazemi M, Wang H, Fini E. Bio-based and nature inspired solutions: A step toward carbon-neutral economy. Journal of Road Engineering. 2022; 2(3): 221–242. doi: 10.1016/j.jreng.2022.08.001

[2]Hasan MM, Rasul MG, Khan MMK, et al. Energy recovery from municipal solid waste using pyrolysis technology: A review on current status and developments. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews. 2021; 145: 111073. doi: 10.1016/j.rser.2021.111073

[3]Gawronski B, Corneille O. Unawareness of attitudes, their environmental causes, and their behavioral effects. Annual Review of Psychology. 2025; 76: 359–384. doi: 10.1146/annurev-psych-051324-031037

[4]Foster SL, Breukelaar IA, Ekanayake K, et al. Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the Amygdala and Subregions at 3 Tesla: A Scoping Review. Journal of Magnetic Resonance Imaging. 2024; 59(2): 361–375. doi: 10.1002/jmri.28836

[5]Arashpour M, Kamat V, Heidarpour A, et al. Computer vision for anatomical analysis of equipment in civil infrastructure projects: Theorizing the development of regression-based deep neural networks. Automation in Construction. 2022; 137: 104193. doi: 10.1016/j.autcon.2022.104193

[6]Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development of the People's Republic of China; State Administration for Market Regulation. GB/T 51350-2019. Technical Standard for Nearly Zero Energy Buildings. Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development of the People's Republic of China; State Administration for Market Regulation; 2019.

[7]Wang S, Oliveira GS, Djebbara Z, et al. The embodiment of architectural experience: A methodological perspective on neuro-architecture. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience. 2022; 16: 833528. doi: 10.3389/fnhum.2022.833528

[8]World Green Building Council. Zero carbon and climate resilience readiness framework. Available online: https://worldgbc.org/zero-carbon-framework/ (accessed on 1 January 2026).

[9]SE2050. Design guidance for reducing embodied carbon in structural systems. Available online: https://se2050.org/resources-overview/structural-materials/lean-design-guidance/ (accessed on 1 January 2026).

[10]Chen L, Hu Y, Wang R, et al. Green building practices to integrate renewable energy in the construction sector: A review. Environmental Chemistry Letters. 2024; 22(2): 751–784. doi: 10.1007/s10311-023-01675-2

[11]Green MA, Dunlop ED, Hohl-Ebinger J, et al. Solar cell efficiency tables (version 60). Progress in Photovoltaics: Research and Applications. 2022; 30(7): 687–701. doi: 10.1002/pip.3595

[12]International Organization for Standardization. ISO 14040:2006. Environmental Management—Life Cycle Assessment—Principles and Framework. ISO; 2006.

[13]European Committee for Standardization. EN 15978:2011. Sustainability of Construction Works—Assessment of Environmental Performance of Buildings—Calculation Method. CEN; 2011.

[14]Adams KT, Osmani M, Thorpe T, et al. Circular economy in construction: Current awareness, challenges and enablers. Waste and Resource Management. 2017; 170(1): 15–24. doi: 10.1680/jwarm.16.00011

[15]Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Climate Change 2022: Mitigation of Climate Change. Cambridge University Press; 2022. doi: 10.1017/9781009157926

[16]Hua J, Wang R, Hu Y, et al. Artificial intelligence for calculating and predicting building carbon emissions: A review. Environmental Chemistry Letters. 2024; 23(2): 783–816. doi: 10.1007/s10311-024-01799-z

[17]International Organization for Standardization. ISO 14068:2023. Climate Change Management—Transition to Net Zero—Part 1: Carbon Neutrality. ISO; 2023.

[18]Del MSTT, Tabrizi SK. A methodological assessment of the importance of physical values in architectural conservation using Shannon entropy method. Journal of Cultural Heritage. 2020; 44: 135–151. doi: 10.1016/j.culher.2019.12.012

[19]Sabha M, Saffarini M, Yousef R. Architectural heritage images classification using deep learning with CNN. In: Proceedings of the 2nd International Workshop on Visual Pattern Extraction and Recognition for Cultural Heritage Understanding; 29 January 2020; Bari, Italy.

[20]ASHRAE. ANSI/ASHRAE/IES Standard 90.1-2022, Energy Standard for Sites and Buildings Except Low-Rise Residential Buildings Tabs. ASHRAE; 2022.

[21]Higuera-Trujillo JL, Llinares C, Macagno E. The cognitive-emotional design and study of architectural space: A scoping review of neuroarchitecture and its precursor approaches. Sensors. 2021; 21(6): 2193. doi: 10.3390/s21062193

[22]Clarke L, Sahin-Dikmen M, Winch C. Transforming vocational education and training for nearly zero-energy building. Buildings and Cities. 2020; 1(1): 650–661. doi: 10.5334/bc.56

[23]International Organization for Standardization. ISO 14067:2018. Greenhouse Gases—Carbon Footprint of Products. ISO; 2018.

[24]Churkina G, Organschi A, Reyer CPO, et al. Buildings as a global carbon sink. Nature Sustainability. 2020; 3: 269–276. doi: 10.1038/s41893-019-0462-4

[25]Ministry of Ecology and Environment of China. China’s Regional Power Grid Baseline Emission Factors. Ministry of Ecology and Environment of China; 2023.

[26]Vartanian O, Navarrete G, Chatterjee A, et al. Architectural design and the brain: Effects of ceiling height and perceived enclosure on beauty judgments and approach-avoidance decisions. Journal of Environmental Psychology. 2015; 41: 10–18. doi: 10.1016/j.jenvp.2014.11.006

[27]Zhang Y, Teoh BK, Zhang L. Exploring driving force factors of building energy use and greenhouse gas emission using a spatio-temporal regression method. Energy. 2023; 269: 126747. doi: 10.1016/j.energy.2023.126747

[28]Hill S. The powerhouse standard—Pioneering eco architecture. Available online: https://www.risedesignstudio.co.uk/blog/the-powerhouse-standard-pioneering-eco-architecture (accessed on 13 December 2025).

[29]Zhang T, Luo Z, Liu Y. Research on the design of zero-carbon public buildings in villages and towns: Taking the Liuba Bee Museum as an example. Journal of Xi’an University of Architecture & Technology. 2025; 57(1): 133–141. doi: 10.15986/j.1006-7930.2025.01.015 (in Chinese)

[30]State Taxation Administration. Available online: http://www.chinatax.gov.cn/chinatax/n810341/n810825/c101434/c5185498/content.html (accessed on 15 December 2025).

[31]Norberg-Schulz C. Genius Loci: Towards a Phenomenology of Architecture. Rizzoli; 1980.

[32]Schumacher EF. Small Is Beautiful: Economics as If People Mattered. Blond & Briggs; 1973.

[33]Changeux JP. Epigenesis, synapse selection, cultural imprints, and brain development: From molecules to cognition. In: Houde O, Borst G (editors). The Cambridge Handbook of Cognitive Development. Cambridge University Press; 2022.

[34]International Organization for Standardization. ISO 7730:2005. Ergonomics of the Thermal Environment—Analytical Determination and Interpretation of Thermal Comfort. ISO; 2005.

[35]Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development of the People's Republic of China; State Administration for Market Regulation. GB/T 51366-2019. Standard for Building Carbon Emission Calculation. Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development of the People's Republic of China; State Administration for Market Regulation; 2019. (in Chinese)

[36]International Organization for Standardization. ISO 22197-3:2019. Fine Ceramics—Test Method for Air Purification Performance—Part 3: Removal of Toluene. ISO; 2019.

[37]International Organization for Standardization. ISO 3664:2009. Graphic Technology and Photography—Viewing Conditions. ISO; 2009.

[38]European Committee for Standardization. EN 14501:2021. Blinds and Shutters—Thermal and Visual Comfort—Performance Characteristics and Classification. CEN; 2021.

[39]Illuminating Engineering Society. Approved Method: IES Spatial Daylight Autonomy (sDA) and Annual Sunlight Exposure (ASE), IES LM-83-12. IES; 2012.

[40]International Organization for Standardization. ISO 16610-21:2021. Geometrical Product Specifications (GPS)—Filtration—Part 21: Linear Profile Filters: Gaussian Filters. ISO; 2021.

[41]Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development of the People's Republic of China; State Administration for Market Regulation. GB/T 50009-2012. Load Code for the Design of Building Structures. Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development of the People's Republic of China; State Administration for Market Regulation; 2012.

[42]Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development of the People's Republic of China; State Administration for Market Regulation. GB/T 15762-2020. Autoclaved Aerated Concrete Slabs. Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development of the People's Republic of China; State Administration for Market Regulation; 2020.

[43]International Organization for Standardization. ISO 15686-8:2008. Buildings and Constructed Assets—Service-Life Planning—Part 8: Reference Service Life and Service-Life Estimation. ISO; 2008.