Future buildings will do far more than reduce energy consumption—they will adapt to occupants’ needs, enhance health and safety, and minimize their environmental footprint. This is the vision behind SMART-LIVING, a new research programme bringing together leading Slovenian research institutions and industry partners to develop next-generation technologies for sustainable, healthy, and intelligent living. The Faculty of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Ljubljana is one of the programme’s key research partners.
Buildings account for a substantial share of global energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions while directly affecting people’s comfort, well-being, and quality of life. As societies face climate change, rising energy costs, and increasing demands for resilient and healthy living environments, conventional approaches to building design and operation are no longer sufficient.
SMART-LIVING addresses these challenges by developing modular, energy-efficient, and digitally connected buildings capable of intelligent operation throughout their lifecycle. The programme is built around the “four-zero” vision: zero emissions, zero net energy consumption, zero health and safety risks, and zero stress for occupants.
To achieve these ambitious goals, researchers will develop advanced building materials, innovative energy systems, digital twin technologies, artificial intelligence solutions, cybersecurity frameworks, and circular economy approaches that will shape the next generation of sustainable buildings.
The Faculty of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Ljubljana contributes expertise in thermal engineering, energy systems, intelligent decision-support methods, and predictive maintenance. Research is carried out by the Laboratory for Refrigeration and District Energy (LAHDE) and the Laboratory for Digitalization of Structural Dynamics (LASDi), where researchers are developing advanced methods for optimizing building energy systems, monitoring building performance, and predicting operational behaviour using artificial intelligence.
“Through SMART-LIVING, the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Ljubljana contributes key expertise in thermal management, energy systems, structural dynamics, and intelligent predictive maintenance. By combining fundamental research with prototype development, we are helping create smarter, more energy-efficient, and user-centred buildings that will define the future of sustainable living.”
SMART-LIVING is funded through the Public Call for Research and Development Programmes (JR RR PROGRAMI, TRL 3–6) and will run from 2026 to 2028. The consortium is coordinated by the Biotechnical Faculty of the University of Ljubljana and brings together the University of Maribor, the Slovenian National Building and Civil Engineering Institute (ZAG), and numerous Slovenian industrial partners.
The programme will deliver technologies that support the transition towards climate-neutral buildings, improve energy resilience, and create healthier, safer, and more comfortable living environments for future generations.
