In Europe raising and lowering temperatures in buildings accounts for 49 % of total energy consumption. The energy efficiency of buildings is a key element in the European Union‘s energy and climate package. In conjunction with making greater use of renewable sources of energy, measures to minimize resource consumption in constructing and to maximize energy productivity in running buildings play an essential part in achieving the EU‘s energy policy goals. In Austria numerous smart design ideas and technologies for buildings aimed at pushing sustainability in the energy-intensive building sector are being researched and tested.