The Energy in buildings research, pilot and demonstration programme promotes the development of energy technologies in the buildings sector. By supplementing projects initiated by the private economy and public-sector research institutions, it sets out to fill certain knowledge gaps, promote the further development of promising technologies and demonstrate the status of technology for more widespread application. In the area of building renovation, one of its main aims is to make the implementation of energy-related measures more attractive by reducing costs and enhancing energy efficiency.

The programme also examines environmental aspects relating to energy use in addition to energy-related aspects. The aim here is to ensure that improvements in terms of energy efficiency are not realised at the expense of the environment.