End of 2026 edition of LOW3: Living Zero!

The 2026 edition of LOW3: Living Zero! has successfully concluded, with all teams achieving their objectives in the development of shading devices and recycled furniture, LOW3 refurbishment works, community garden and outdoor space design, as well as material research and communication.

Following the final course presentations, the semester was celebrated with a shared moment on campus, enjoying freshly harvested vegetables from the garden alongside music and refreshments, marking the collective achievements of the participants.

All our work, discussions, and online learning modules within and around LOW3 have contributed to shaping participants’ critical thinking, systemic understanding, and specific knowledge on sustainability, particularly in relation to housing, energy, and lifestyle.

LOW3 served once again as a transformative learning environment at ETSAV, fostering the development of future professionals capable of driving the necessary societal transitions.

LIME Workshop at LOW3!

Today, the Material group of LOW3 organized a hands-on lime workshop for the entire course, aimed at familiarizing participants with this natural material, its intrinsic properties, and its environmental performance. The session also emphasized practical experience, including preparation, mixing techniques, and application on different surfaces. In addition, participants explored creative surface treatments and the incorporation of fibers into the mixtures as part of the experimental learning process.

The experience was highly valuable, combining theoretical instruction with the preparation and application of lime plaster, alongside experimentation with various additives such as straw and dog hair to enhance performance. This was complemented by critical reflections on sustainability, applicability, circularity, and durability.

Thank you to the Material group of LOW3: Teo, Magnolia, Adrià and Gabriele for that enriching, practical and funny experience!

THE CAMPUS YOU WANT - THE CAMPUS WE NEED

Great introduction today into this years main course topic: THE CAMPUS YOU WANT - THE CAMPUS WE NEED. How to convert our campus into a decarbonized, regenerative ecosystem that takes care of persons, environment, resources and by the way creates opportunities for a collective learning processes in a healthy environment?

The Q+ working group introduced us into the basic objectives of the eco-social transition roadmap of ETSAV, and the related Q+ project they collaborated during the last semesters. How can we reduce efectively the 822 Tn of CO2 emissions we generate as a community each year? Buildings, mobility, food, materials... our campus metabolism under research! 

During this semester LOW3 students will contribute to the overall objective of a decarbonized, regenerative ETSAV campus by generating knowledge, visions, roadmaps and specific interventions.

Start of new LIVING LAB LOW3 course 2026!

LOW3 starts again! First class of LOW3 2025/26_Q2: Getting known to each other with a first discussion and presentation round at the LOW3 terrace and a introduction to our MOOC learning platform and the participatory Living Lab dynamics. 

Students lifestyle carbon footprint results in 12 Tn average according to our first exercise. A good starting point for getting known to the new challenge of this year: Ideas for an integrated regenerative decarbonization concept for our campus and community in line with the Q+ project and the eco-social transition roadmap of ETSAV!

As in each course, we went through the LOW3 Solar House, exploring its spaces, analyzing its concepts and understanding its potential as a inspiring place for transformative education in sustainability.

Diversity of views with a holistic approach to sustainability, value discussions and learning-by-doing will be again part of the game at the LOW3 Living Lab. Let’s start!

GREAT END OF LOW3 COURSE 2025

The LOW3 2025 team worked well the last weeks, completing construction works at LOW3 finishing the design of the upper exposition and event space, the improved shading for the LOW3 terrace as well as some interesting new outdoor furniture. After the final presentations of the course we enjoyed some fresh salat from the campus garden and music and drinks for celebrating the great outcomes we achieved this semester. 

Hopefully all activities, course contents, discussion rounds and personal interchange among students contributed to shape their critical thinking and knowledge about sustainability especially regarding the LOW3 topics of housing, energy and lifestyle!

Green Office ETSAV - GBCE University program

Within the colaboration program with the Green Building Council Spain (GBCE) we start a new phase of our teaching innovation project Green Office ETSAV within the LOW3 Living Lab. Its aim is to support architecture students in their learning about sustainability and the challenges of decarbonisation with a focus on opening new channels of communication, creating debates on the challenge of decarbonisation and supporting students to be the engine of change towards the sustainability at the ETSAV through a transformative learning model. 

We will benefit together with 5 other spanish universities from webinars offered by GBCE, and participate with our students in the Sustainability XL event next June in Valladolid, where we will present our individual projects among all participating schools of architecture.

Green Office ETSAV project includes our Instagram Channel GoGreenETSAV  our podcast series In the Cube and many other initiatives designed and driven by students with the aim to raise the knowledge on sustainability of our community, creating behaviour change through value discussions and collective transformative experiences.

New LOW3:Living Zero! course started!

First class of LOW3 2024/25_Q2: First discussion and presentation round at the LOW3 terrace, introduction into our MOOC learning platform, understanding the participatory Living Lab dynamics and getting known to our GREEN OFFICE ETSAV activities related to the Green Building Council Spain (GBCe) – University collaboration about decarbonization.

Introduction to the LOW3 Solar House, exploring its spaces, analyzing its concepts and understanding its potential as a inspiring place for transformative education in sustainability.

Diversity of views with a holistic approach to sustainability, value discussions and learning-by-doing will be again part of the game at the LOW3 Living Lab. Let’s start!

MISMEC Master Course City and Energy visits LOW3

Energy Transition has been the topic within the City and Energy course of the Master Program "Sustainable Intervention in the Built Environment" (MISMEC).

After reviewing energy transition scenarios and roadmaps on global scale and understanding current state, next milestones and obstacles, students had the opportunity to visit the LOW3 Living Lab at the campus, seeing an example of a energy self-sufficient solar house, with its technologies in place, but also with its conceptual approach to low-carbon architecture and sustainable housing and lifestyles.

InnoEnergy - Master Program RENE: Innovation and Co-creation Seminar

A new edition of our Innovation and Co-creation Seminar has been held 2-5 of July for the InnoEnergy MSc Program "Renewable Energies"(RENE) with around 37 students from 12 different countries working on a “Holistic Sustainability Approach for Innovations”. 

Under the topics “Housing, Energy and Lifestyle” students got known to the innovative concepts of UPC's nearly zero energy buildings, exploring and analyzing the technological concepts of the LOW3 prototype house in the fields of solar thermal, solar photovoltaic, HVAC, bioclimatic building management and energy monitoring systems, energy storage and circularity. Besides, a visit to the low-energy student residence of the campus enriched the discussions on new approaches to sustainable buildings and cities and decarbonization of our society. Students tested the Carbon Coaching App SUSLA (www.susla.app) and calculated their own lifestyle carbon footprint. 

After more than 10 years of collaboration with the MSc Program RENE of KIC InnoEnergy students feedback confirms once again that the LOW3 Living Lab offers a valuable contribution to engineer students’ education through its holistic approach to sustainability, bringing together in one place the important topics of Housing, Energy and Lifestyle.

GREAT FINAL COURSE DELIVERY AND EVENT AT LOW3

The LOW3 team speeded up final construction Works at LOW3 and finished the design of the upper exposition and event space, the shading for the LOW3 terrace as well as outdoor furniture. The Living Lab has been perfectly prepared for the final event which consisted in a Kahoot quiz on decarbonization at the ETSAV terrace with prices for the winner, the individual group presentation at LOW3, open to guests, and a final party with produce from the community garden, a ping-pong match and music and drinks for celebrating the great outcomes we achieved this semester. 

Congratulations to all LOW3 students of this semester and farewell to our Erasmus guests! It was a pleasure to have you with us!