Leveraging Digital Twins for Enhancing Building Energy Efficiency: A Literature Review of Applications, Technologies, and Challenges
Amina Sghiri, Maryam Gallab, Safae Merzouk, Saliha Assoul
Abstract
Amid global efforts to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions, improving the energy efficiency of buildings has emerged as a strategic priority. Buildings account for approximately 40% of global energy consumption and a significant share of CO2 emissions, making them key targets for sustainable practices. This study employs a systematic literature review combined with a bibliometric analysis to explore the transformative potential of digital twins in building energy efficiency. The review synthesizes key contributions of digital twins in real-time monitoring, predictive modeling, renewable energy integration, and proactive maintenance while addressing critical challenges such as interoperability, scalability, and privacy. The originality of this work lies in its integrated approach, which identifies emerging trends and research gaps, providing actionable insights to guide the future adoption of digital twins in the building sector. These findings highlight the pivotal role of digital twins in fostering sustainable and intelligent energy practices.