The building sector has a key role to play in the energy transition, because buildings account for a large proportion of energy consumption. To reduce it, far-reaching transformations of entire cities are necessary, which can only be effective if they involve science, industry, municipalities and local people and stimulate their innovative spirit. The participating neighbourhoods act as living labs, in which interdisciplinary teams from science and industry work together with municipal representatives and residents to develop new ideas and put them into practice.

The LLEC as EU-wide neighbourhood competition addresses the transformation of cities to climate-neutral performance. To collectively improve climate protection in Europe in the complex end-use sector, innovative funding formats are required. LLEC therefore aims at cities and municipalities in the European Union that want to be forerunners in transforming their neighbourhoods in a sustainable way.

The competition shall take place regularly at a main venue and in participating neighbourhoods. Juries will evaluate and monitor the transformed neighbourhoods according to living quality, aesthetics, affordability, inclusion, social compatibility and creativity, as well as climate protection goals, sustainability and circular economy. The LLEC showcases different parts of the transformation process via multiple competition disciplines. Architectural contests take place within the early planning phase. District transformations in process are exhibited and accompanied. Transformations that have been realised will be comparable in long-term based on defined evaluation criteria.