Smart research and Poliba prototypes to promote the energy efficiency of buildings
The project, funded by the EU and led by the Polytechnic University of Bari, aims to promote the spread of new “smart” technologies applied to next-generation buildings. Objective: reducing energy consumption and creating a permanent transnational network for transferring innovations from the laboratory to industry. Presentation of the “Fenestrae” Project at Poliba: Friday, July 4
July 2, 2025
Promoting energy efficiency in buildings through intelligent technologies for the retrofitting of openings (doors, windows, etc.) in order to achieve better control of indoor/outdoor temperatures is the objective of the “FENESTRAE” project; a Latin acronym with an English meaning, “Fostering ENergy Efficiency by means of Smart Technologies to Retrofit Apertures and building Envelope”.
There is no shortage of studies on the subject. Those dedicated to glass materials and their possible applications in the building sector have made significant progress from both a functional-energy and aesthetic-architectural perspective. Electrochromic glass, for example, an evolution of traditional glass, available on the market since the 2000s, is able to modulate its transparency to sunlight by applying a very low electrical voltage of a few volts, with reduced annual consumption.
On the one hand, modulating transparency makes it possible to reduce the amount of solar radiation entering the enclosed space; on the other, an electrochromic glass allows excess solar radiation to be screened, limiting visual discomfort phenomena caused by glare, an aspect that is especially relevant in offices. Moreover, electrochromic glass enhances natural light, while always ensuring visual interaction with the surrounding environment.
Studies in the field have been conducted at the Polytechnic University of Bari. The researchers estimated, through numerical simulations, that electrochromic glasses can reduce cooling energy demand by 40% on a building façade.
Despite the significance of the benefits mentioned, especially in terms of the energy transition, this technology is not very widespread, due to its high costs: from 400 to 800 dollars per square meter, to which the costs of the control system must be added.
Poliba research has gone further, precisely to overcome the main factors that limit the commercial spread of these devices. To this end, the researchers designed materials and layer configurations aimed at simplifying the device architecture, limiting the use of materials and process energy, compared with electrochromic glazing currently available in the international state of the art.
A prototype device was created capable of simplifying electrochromic glass by becoming a solid-state film, with a very limited thickness (less than 8 microns), which can be deposited on a single substrate (instead of two, as in commercial electrochromic glass), reducing the impact of emissions arising from the traditional production process of this technology.
In addition, they developed a process in which all manufacturing stages take place at room temperature, achieving on the one hand a reduction in the process’s energy consumption and on the other the possibility of using flexible polymer substrates as well, broadening the prospects for use in different fields, from the construction sector to transport.
Such research and promising experimental results have featured prominently in the European Interreg IPA ADRION project, which, in addition to involving the Polytechnic University of Bari (lead partner), brought together a consortium of other public and private organisations from Italy and abroad: the University of Ljubljana (Slovenia); the University of Patras (Greece); the Molise Local Action Group “Towards 2000”; and the organisations Biznes (Albania), Smart Village (Bosnia and Herzegovina), and NOVUS (North Macedonia).
With a primary focus on innovative materials such as electrochromic and thermochromic systems, and ICT tools dedicated to energy efficiency, “Finestrae” aims to strengthen cross-border cooperation between EU Member States and the Western Balkans and contribute to the challenges of the energy transition and the achievement of climate neutrality by 2050, in line with the European Green Deal.
Moreover, this unprecedented collaboration between scientific and operational expertise represents a unique opportunity to promote technology transfer, job creation, support for entrepreneurship, and the dissemination of energy awareness among citizens.
The Interreg initiative, promoted and supported by the EU with a total budget of 1,750,407.20 euros, will be presented in the events room of the BINP incubator at the Polytechnic University of Bari (university campus), on Friday, 4 July, at 10:00 a.m.
Programme and participation.
Time 10:00. Stefania Liuzzi (PoliBa), Presentation of the FENESTRAE Project
10:15 a.m. 1st Panel: the state of the art in research on “smart” envelopes and windows. Alessandro Cannavale (PoliBa), Francesco Fiorito (PoliBa), Paola Lassandro (CNR-ITC), Marco Mazzeo (UniSalento), Michele Zinzi (ENEA.
11:30 a.m. 2nd Panel: “Smart” envelopes as an opportunity for innovation. Vincenzo De Carlo (ÈKASA Group srl), Lorenzo Lafronza (Master Italy srl), Antonio Sacchetti (TERA srl), Antonio Stragapede (OAPPC Bari).
12:30 p.m. 3rd Panel: supporting business innovation Patrizio Altieri (BINP), Gianna Elisa Berlingerio (Region of Puglia, Economic Development Dept.), Tiziana Valerio (DHITECH)
The fact sheet. The “FENESTRAE” project is funded by the EU, under the first call of the Interreg IPA ADRION 2021–2027 Programme – Priority Axis 1, “Supporting a smarter Adriatic-Ionian region”, the programme’s priority specific objective “1.1 Develop and enhance research and innovation capacities and the uptake of advanced technologies”, with a total budget of €1,750,407.20, and will conclude in 2027.
The article Smart research and Poliba prototypes to promote the energy efficiency of buildings comes from Poliba Chronicle.
