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This issue of Engineering Sustainability is the second part of our themed issue on 'Sustainability and energy in buildings', which includes the selected papers from the proceedings of the seventh International Conference on Sustainability and Energy in Buildings 2015 (SEB15). Annually, the conference brings together researchers and government and industry professionals to discuss the future of energy in buildings, neighbourhoods and cities from a theoretical, practical, implementation and simulation perspective. Part one of the issue (Calautit, 2017) explored emerging research topics in the areas of energy and buildings, including big data, renewable energy integration, energy performance gap, advanced materials and technologies in building construction, hybrid energy systems and smart cities. Part two focuses on topical issues in engineering sustainability including embodied energy and emissions, energy modelling, external wall insulation, in-construction testing methods and energy sources in non-interconnected regions.

This themed issue includes the selected papers from the proceedings of the seventh International Conference on Sustainability and Energy in Buildings 2015 (SEB15), which was successfully held in the vibrant city of Lisbon, Portugal and was organised by the Universidade Nova de Lisbon (New University of Lisbon) in partnership with KES International. Annually, the conference brings together researchers and government and industry professionals to discuss the future of energy in buildings, neighbourhoods and cities from a theoretical, practical, implementation and simulation perspective.

This volume presents innovative work on innovative methods, tools and practices aimed at supporting the transition of Asian and Middle Eastern cities and regions towards a more smart and sustainable dimension. The role of the built and urban environment are becoming more pronounced in Asia and Middle East as the regions continues to experience rapid increase in population and urbanisation, which have only led to an increase in environmental degradation but also rise in energy consumption and emissions. Individual chapters covers timely topics such as sustainable infrastructure, transportation, renewable energy, water and methods supporting an innovative and sustainable development of urban areas. Real-world examples are presented to highlight recent developments and advancements in design, construction and transportation infrastructures. This volume is part of the proceedings of the 1st GeoMEast International Congress and Exhibition on Sustainable Civil Infrastructures, Egypt 2017.

Preface -- Contents -- The Iron Triangle of Projects Management: Quality, Schedule and Cost of Road Infrastructure Projects in Egypt -- Abstract -- 1 Introduction -- 2 The Need to Improve Management of Road Projects in Egypt -- 3 Research Methodology -- 4 Defining Quality Level, Time Overrun, and Cost Escalation -- 4.1 Quality Level -- 4.2 Time Overrun -- 4.3 Cost Escalation -- 5 Questionnaire Survey -- 5.1 Profile of the Questionnaire Respondents -- 6 Analysis and Discussion of Questionnaire Survey Results -- 7 Summary and Conclusions -- Refrences -- Amaravati - A City Reborn, Journey Towards a World-Class Smart City -- Abstract -- 1 Introduction -- 2 Site Selection -- 3 Methodology -- 4 Smart City -- 4.1 Residential Plans -- 4.2 Transportation -- 4.3 Amenities -- 4.3.1 Flood Management -- 4.3.2 Water -- 4.3.3 Solid Waste Management -- 5 Green Amaravati -- 6 Place-Making Strategies -- 7 Implementation -- 8 Conclusion -- Acknowledgments -- Improving Sustainable Construction Practices Through Facility Management -- Abstract -- 1 Introduction -- 2 Review of Literature -- 2.1 Sustainability in Construction -- 2.2 Facility Management and Sustainable Construction -- 3 Research Methodology -- 4 Findings and Discussion -- 4.1 Respondents' Information -- 4.2 Influences of Sustainable Construction -- 4.3 Facility Management as Drivers of Sustainable Construction -- 5 Conclusion and Recommendations -- References -- Implementing Tilt-Up Method for Sustainable Construction -- Abstract -- 1 Introduction -- 2 Tilt-Up Method and Sustainable Construction -- 3 Research Methodology -- 4 Findings and Discussion -- 4.1 Respondents' Information -- 4.2 Advantages and Viability of Tilt-Up Construction Method -- 4.3 Effect of Tilt-Up Method on Construction Labor Force -- 5 Conclusion and Recommendations -- References

Crop residues are common in rural Ghana due to the predominant role agriculture plays in livelihood activities in these communities. In this paper we investigate the prospects of exploiting agricultural crop residues for rural development in Ghana through bioenergy schemes. A theoretical energy potential of 623.84 PJ per year, which is equivalent to 19,781 MW was estimated using crop production data from the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations and residue-to-product ratios. Ghana has a total installed generation capacity of 4577 MW which is four times less the energy potential of crop residues in the country. Cocoa pod husks were identified as important biomass resources for energy generation as they are currently wasted. To further assess the energy potential of cocoa pod husks, different cocoa pod husks samples were collected across the six cocoa growing regions in Ghana and thermo-chemically characterised using proximate and ultimate analysis. The low levels of nitrogen and sulphur observed, together with the high heating value, suggest that cocoa pod husks and for that matter crop residues are eco-friendly feedstock that can be used to power rural communities in Ghana.