With the demand for renewable energy, solar energy is widely used to generate and convert into heat. It is important to look beyond solar thermal for revolutionary technology to increase the coefficient of utilization of solar energy. In this editorial, a review on the promising novel technologies and applications for solar energy utilization is presented. In particular, we examine novel technologies for solar radiation controlling and harnessing solar energy for energy-efficient space heating and cooling through spectral selectivity and heat pump systems. These novel technologies in solar energy systems can provide significant benefits and can be developed for a wide range of applications.