Today, every conversation about architecture and urban planning contains, to a smaller or larger extent, the topic of natural environment in relation with energy saving issues.  In the developed countries, environmental design is used as means to retain the existing quality of living while minimizing the negative effects of human activity on the environment (innovative technology/ecological materials); whereas in the developing countries it is used as means to deal with more fundamental issues such as housing, and infrastructure, aiming at an improvement of the existing living conditions (economical solutions/ecology). In each of these cases, architecture is called upon in order to provide solutions for a more sustainable development. In that framework, UIA-ARES Int. WP plays a major role in the promotion of energy efficient design with the use of Renewable Energy Sources.

The ARES WP started in 2002 and is supported by the Hellenic section of UIA and the TCG (Technical Chamber of Greece). It is partially self financed through participation in scientific research projects. The ARES WP is addressed to the 116 countries of UIA and to more than 1.300.000 architects. The main aim is to disseminate globally the idea of an architectural design based on the maximum use of RES.

WP ARES Director: Nikos Fintikakis, architect