The Energy Wise Cities comprehensively integrate city, business and user perspectives. The Cities have developed advanced models and technologies to improve energy efficiency in the existing buildings and to design sustainable new future areas by using life cycle assessment.

Key tool was the cooperation with companies in order to employ the latest technologies in the buildings. Cities have offered their buildings to be used as testbeds for the novel solutions and given valuable feedback about what is needed in the cities. Design management was used to engage the building users and to ensure the usability of new systems. Indoor climate conditions were monitored actively and users can give feedback.