The research of EBC aims to reduce the energy consumption of buildings and increase the quality of the indoor climate. This energy-focussed consideration of buildings comprises the generation of energy and its distribution, the storage of energy and its dispensation to the room as well as the thermal behavior of the building structure.

Unlike many other energy approaches typically applied nowadays, the institute uses an exergy-based analytical technology which, in particular, involves sensible utilization chains for energy transformation. This method enables a thermodynamically valid evaluation of the entire energy supply chain - starting from the supply structure and the energy transformation chain extending down to the energy streams within a building.

In all methods for reducing the energy requirements of buildings, the research work always compares the costs (energy/exergy) with the benefit (indoor comfort), so that new concepts for the supply of buildings can be compared with existing solutions and be further developed to meet future requirements.