A consortium formed by 7 partners including companies, a university and a technology center has created a living lab or test bench, which allows the experimentation of innovative systems of management in subject energy in buildings in use. In this way, building managers will be able to improve the energy efficiency and sustainability of the building, as well as the industrialization and automation of some of the processes used. At the same time, it is possible to quantify the comfort and the improvement in energy savings that occurs with the incorporation of these new technologies.

The project E3LAB was carried out in the University's School of Architecture building, which was used to validate the virtual energy model developed. For this purpose, the building has been sensorized and monitored and, in addition, photovoltaic generation and storage facilities have been simulated.

The partners of project E3LAB are: Saltoki (coordinator), ACR, Satelec, CYC, i3Code, CENER (National Renewable Energy Center) and the University of Navarra. The joint work has allowed them to collaborate in the development of the sustainability of buildings in use and their integration in the energy transition. 

The director of the School of Architecture and researcher main project, Carlos Naya, emphasizes: "This project has a great didactic purpose and aims to promote more sustainable habits. This is achieved through systems that graphically show how energy behaves in the building". The living lab building of project E3LAB serves as an integrated digital model , and will allow to know in detail its energy behavior in different conditions of use and with different technologies. 

The project, already completed, was launched in October last year. It has been co-financed through the call for aid for the realization of energy partnerships of the department of Industry, and Business Green and Digital Transition. The funds for these grants are REACT EU Resources, and are obtained from the 2014-2020 ERDF Operational Program of Navarra, from the specific goal "EO REACT EU4. Support for investments contributing to the transition to a green Economics ", as part of the European Union's response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Researchers from the University of Navarra at project E3LAB. Above, from left to right: Juan Roquette, Carlos Naya, Pilar Salazar and Sara Dorregaray. Bottom: Flor Ozuna and Txema Yoldi.

 E3LAB is part of the 2025 Strategy of the University of Navarra, which aims to contribute to the sustainable development that today's society needs through its research, professor and care work, and at partnership with other corporations. Caring for people and the environment is at the center of all its projects. The area of research seeks to generate positive social impact and advances in Sustainability, with special attention to the Environment and Biodiversity, Society and Digital Communication and the work, Care and development of people.