Visualized Analysis of Research Progress on Green and Low-Carbon Buildings in China Based on CiteSpace

Abstract

To systematically review the research progress of green and low-carbon buildings in China, a bibliometric analysis was conducted on 4,739 documents from the CNKI and Web of Science (WOS) databases spanning the period 2001–2025. Using analyses of publication trends, collaborative networks of core authors and institutions, keyword co-occurrence and burst detection, and keyword clustering, this study yielded the following findings: The number of publications in this field shows a rapid growth trend, yet a core group of authors has not yet formed, and there is a lack of in-depth collaboration among key institutions. Keywords with high betweenness include “energy”, “concrete”, and “barriers”. The burst strength of keywords reveals that current research hotspots in green and low-carbon buildings focus on user behavior, comfort, and low-carbon materials. Keyword clustering results indicate that, at the present stage, the integration of active and passive technologies driven by such technologies as artificial intelligence and digital twins, along with the application of high-performance low-carbon materials, constitute the main research directions in the field of green and low-carbon buildings. Future research should address the existing issue of emphasizing design over operation, promote interdisciplinary collaboration, and attach importance to the supervision of building operation data.