Official URL: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbenv.2025.03.003

Several countries all over the world are interested in the energy business. The scientific community is creating new energy-saving experiments in response to the present fossil fuel problems. Buildings are one of the components that use more energy, so it is highly desirable that knowledge is being generated and technology is developing to provide answers to this energy demand. When used in building elements for heating and cooling like coatings, blocks, panels or wall panels, phase change materials (PCMs) have been demonstrated to enhance the capacity for heat storage by absorbing heat as latent heat. Thus, during the past 20 years, research has been done on the application of phase change materials (PCMs) in latent heat storage systems. The most practical way to incorporate PCMs into construction parts is through the macro encapsulation approach, which is examined in this review together with the microencapsulation method. Furthermore, given that additional research is required to process biobased PCMs, we must pay greater attention to them, as evidenced by our examination of the literature on the encapsulation process of PCMs. Due to the lack of information provided in other reviews, there is a section dedicated to the superior PCM with lightweight material to ascertain its macro and microscale thermophysical and mechanical characteristics as well as to determine whether it would be feasible to switch from PCM that are made from petroleum to more ecologically friendly bio-based ones. Above all, this study also focuses on reviewing recent PCM research and evaluating the thermal performance of prototypes used in experimental PCM investigations, i.e., how the layout of design affects several variables and potential applications of PCM.