Unlocking the Potential:
Strategies for Smarter, Greener and more Resilient Buildings
Buildings are at the heart of the sustainability challenge. This COIL explores how intelligent systems, renewable energy solutions, IAQ and strategic energy management can transform the built environment into smarter, greener, and more resilient spaces. Through an interdisciplinary approach, students will gain practical tools to design and evaluate energy-wise buildings that prioritize both efficiency and well-being.
The implementation consists of the following interconnected parts:
Part 1: Intelligent Building Systems – Harmonizing Energy Efficiency and Indoor Well-being
Focuses on the principles of building energy efficiency and automation. Students will examine how smart systems can enhance indoor environmental quality, optimize energy use, and support sustainability goals.
Part 2: Empowering Buildings – Renewable Microgeneration and Energy Storage Systems
Explores small-scale renewable energy technologies and storage solutions. Learners will gain insights into how buildings can become active energy producers and contribute to grid resilience. To pursue this goal, it is also important to integrate the concepts related to demand-side flexibility.
Part 3: Towards Energy-Wise Buildings – Smart Readiness Indicator (SRI)
Introduces the Smart Readiness Indicator framework, encouraging strategic thinking in building design and operation. Students will learn to assess and enhance a building’s smart capabilities in alignment with EU directives.
Learning Objectives:
By the end of the course, students will be able to:
- Analyze the role of buildings in addressing climate and energy challenges.
- Evaluate strategies for improving energy efficiency and indoor environmental quality.
- Understand principles of building automation and intelligent control systems.
- Assess the potential of renewable microgeneration and energy storage in building contexts.
- Interpret and utilize the Smart Readiness Indicator (SRI) to support strategic decision-making.
- Collaborate with multidisciplinary and international teams to present energy-wise building concepts.
- Reflect critically on the integration of technology, sustainability, and user well-being in the built environment.
Learning Methods:
- Expert keynote lectures
- Peer learning and collaborative discussions
- Learning café sessions for reflective dialogue
- Individual and team assignments
By the end of this COIL, students will be equipped to analyze, design, and manage buildings that meet the demands of a changing climate and evolving energy landscape. Students will leave with actionable strategies and a holistic perspective on integrating technology, sustainability, and indoor environmental quality into the built environment.
23rd of March 2026 to 31st of May 2026
English
yes.
BEng, MEng, BSc and MSc students from RUN network
Programme at a glance
* Opening session: introducing the three-part COIL.
* Part 1 kick-off: Intelligent Building Systems – Harmonizing Energy Efficiency and Indoor Well-being
* Part 1: Introduction lecture: Technology driven energy efficient building.
* Keynote lecture: Domebus, Managing Partner Luís Dias: New Trends in BACS according to the technological evolution and the response to the current requirements
* Introducing the group work: on wireless building automation technologies/learning café.
Online session 1.2: April 7th at 1PM /PT & 3PM/FI (3h)
* Keynote lecture: Polytechnic Institute of Tomar (Portugal), Lecturer Cristina Andrade : Indoor air quality
* Case examples
* IAQ assignment introduction
Online session 1.3: April 15th at 12.30 /PT & 14.30 /FI (4,5h)
* Learning cafe on wireless building automation technologies
* Closing, feedback and Mentimeter
Offline assignments: in person or in groups: March 24th - April 14th (16,5h)
* Video keynote lecture: Shelly Finland, Regional Sales Manager Teemu Virta: Intelligent Building Automation systems
* Learning cafe presentation creation on wireless building automation technologies
* The IAQ assignment
* Part 2 kick-off: Empowering Buildings – Renewable Microgeneration and Energy Storage Systems
* Keynote lecture: Socilux, Technical Solutions architect Pedro Jorge: Renewable Microgeneration and Energy Storage Systems
* Assignment: a case study:
* Designing a PV and battery storage system for a given target building and evaluating potential energy savings and CO2 emissions mitigations.
* Simulating different scenarios of demand-side flexibility
Online session 2.2: May 4th, at 1PM/PT & 3PM/FI (4h)
* Keynote lectures:
* Demand Side Flexibility pertinence considering energy prices volatility, energy sources availability and grid congestion
* Beckhoff Finland, Business Area Manager Jussi Piispanen: Electricity reserve markets
* INESC TEC, Researcher Filipe Tadeu Oliveira: Grid Resilience
* Wago Finland, Business Development Manager Aki Kalajainen: ESG reporting and Carbon footprint
* Closing, feedback and Mentimeter
Offline assignments: in person or in groups: Apr 20th - May 3rd (20h)
* Assignment: a case study:
* Designing a PV and battery storage system for a given target building and evaluating potential energy savings and CO2 emissions mitigations.
* Simulating different scenarios of demand-side flexibility.
* Part 3 kick-off: Towards Energy-Wise Buildings – Smart Readiness Indicator (SRI)
* Introduction lecture: Introduction of the Smart Readiness Indicator (SRI)
Online session 3.2: May 18th , at 1PM/PT & 3PM/FI (3h)
* Keynote lecture: ISQ Group IP Leiria, Researcher Luisa Dias: The SRI framework and practical approach in a building context
Introducing the SRI assignment
* Closing, feedback and Mentimeter
Offline assignments: in person or in groups: May 11th - May 25th (21h)
* SRI assignment
* Lessons learned and top 3 highlights
* Feedback and Mentimeter summary
* Closing speeches, HAMK and IP Leiria
Learning outcomes
By the end of this Collaborative Online International Learning, learners will be able to:
This COIL aims to equip students (EQF levels 6–7) with advanced knowledge and skills to design, analyze, and manage energy-wise buildings that address climate challenges. Key focus areas include:
- Energy efficiency & indoor environmental quality
- Building automation & intelligent control systems
- Renewable microgeneration & energy storage
- Smart Readiness Indicator (SRI) for strategic decisions
- Multidisciplinary collaboration & critical reflection on sustainability and user well-being
Selection criteria
Students will be accepted in order of application time, according to the priorities below.
First priority: HAMK and IP Leiria students from the Degree Programmes of Electrical and Automation Engineering, Electrical Engineering, and Energy and Environmental Engineering
Second priority: HAMK and IP Leiria students from degree programs adjacent to the above-mentioned Degree Programmes
Third priority: RUN network students from the Degree Programmes of Electrical and Automation Engineering, Electrical Engineering, and Energy and Environmental Engineering
Fourth priority: Other RUN network students
Involved organisations and persons
Häme University of Applied Sciences
Lead Organisation- Katariina Penttila (Lead Instructor)
- Timo Väisänen (Instructor)
- Timo Viitala (Instructor)
Polytechnic University of Leiria
- Hermano Bernardo (Instructor)
- Joao Sousa (Instructor)
- Sandra Mourato (Instructor)
Other persons involved
- Aki Kalajainen (Regional Stakeholder)
- Cristina Andrade (Regional Stakeholder)
- Filipe Tadeu Oliveira (Regional Stakeholder)
- Jarmo Hillebrand (Regional Stakeholder)
- Luis Dias (Regional Stakeholder)
- Luisa Dias (Regional Stakeholder)
- Pedro Jorge (Regional Stakeholder)
- Teemu Virta (Regional Stakeholder)
Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them. Grant Agreement Number: 101124674