The glass facade of the fifth floor of the Technical University of Munich (TUM) building gives Professor Thomas Auer a great view of the city, but not necessarily a clear insight into the future of sustainable building technology. The 1960s edifice in which Auer and his students are researching the buildings of tomorrow was renovated only a few years ago. “You just get the bare essentials: lights on, lights off, open windows, close windows,” Auer notes with a smile. He adds: “With public buildings, there are certain financial constraints. Nevertheless, they still manage to offer a high degree of user comfort.”