The University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU) is clearly committed to environmental sustainability, using innovative systems to achieve greater energy efficiency throughout the building.

Thanks to the collaboration between the University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU) and the Basque Energy Board (EVE), the building has a geothermal exchange system that takes advantage of the thermal stability of the ground and provides 40% to 70% in savings compared to the energy consumption of conventional cold or heat generation systems.

The system consists of the injection of excess cold or heat from the building (depending on outside temperature) in a network of pipes buried underground through which water flows and where the constant temperature is between 14ºC and 17ºC. Likewise, the Lascaray Center has a network of 80kW photovoltaic solar panels on its roof.

The same search philosophy from that energy efficiency has been expanded to the rest of the building, through automated lighting and air conditioning controls, thereby achieving better management of its resources.

The building has an A energy rating (the highest, CADEM certified) providing 41.4% energy savings compared to a similar building lacking these systems (although it strictly complies with existing legislation).

The project of this building has been awarded the 2009 Solar Prize by EUROSOLAR (European Association for Renewable Energy).

The project of this building has been awarded the 2009 Solar Prize by EUROSOLAR (European Association for Renewable Energy).