Practical exposure to real energy-efficient buildings provides students and academic staff with an opportunity to see how sustainable design principles and modern engineering technologies work beyond the classroom.

On 24 September 2026, students and academic staff of Kyiv National University of Construction and Architecture (KNUCA), a partner of the GreenBUILD project, took part in a practical study visit to Optima House – an energy-efficient building that serves as a real-life educational and research environment for exploring modern sustainable technologies, Active House principles, and digital BIM modelling.

The initiative was organised by Yevhen Kulinko and Nataliia Chepurna. The study visit was led by Ivan Perehinets, Candidate of Technical Sciences and Director of the Scientific and Technical Centre of the Academy of Construction of Ukraine, who introduced participants to the building and its technological solutions.

Energy Efficiency in Practice

During the visit, students and academic staff had an opportunity to explore modern engineering and architectural solutions implemented in an actual energy-efficient building.

Particular attention was paid to technologies and approaches ranging from solar energy systems and modern thermal insulation solutions to integrated energy-efficient building design.

The visit enabled participants to connect theoretical knowledge with practical implementation and to better understand how different architectural, structural, and engineering solutions can work together to improve the energy performance and comfort of buildings.

From Real Buildings to the Classroom

One of the main values of the visit was the opportunity to bring real-life experience directly into the educational process.

The practical knowledge and experience gained by KNUCA students and academic staff will contribute to the further improvement of educational content within the GreenBUILD project, helping to connect university teaching with contemporary technologies and approaches already applied in energy-efficient construction.

Such practice-oriented learning is particularly important for future architects and engineers, who need not only theoretical knowledge but also an understanding of how sustainable building concepts are implemented in real projects.

Supporting GreenBUILD Objectives

The visit directly contributes to the objectives of GreenBUILD – Green & Energy-Efficient Building Design for UA Renovation, which aims to modernise higher education and strengthen professional competencies in sustainable and energy-efficient construction.

Integrating practical examples such as Optima House into the learning process supports the development of competencies in energy-efficient building design, renewable energy integration, thermal performance, BIM technologies, and sustainable architectural solutions.

For Ukraine, these competencies are particularly important in the context of reconstruction. Future architects and engineers will play a key role in ensuring that rebuilt and renovated buildings are not only restored, but become more energy-efficient, sustainable, autonomous, and comfortable for people.

By connecting academic education with real-life examples and professional expertise, GreenBUILD contributes to preparing a new generation of specialists capable of shaping a greener and more energy-efficient built environment for Ukraine.