The article starts from the baseline assumption that experimental approaches to obtain Energy efficient, environmentally sustainable architecture ha sto be led by the public building sector, given its key, albeit difficult role, of setting the example in terms of responsible behaviour and promotion og best practices. Of special importance is the public residential sector. Qhether recently introduced or a long standing policy commitment, social housing ha sto face the chiallenges of our era by producing “bioclimatic”, environmentally responsibile homes for end uses. Five recents experimental projects in central Italy (some of qich now being realised) pint to the central role played by architectural planning to ensure maximum environmental safeguard and Energy efficiency of architectures, internal and intermediate areas, technolgy and plant, and products and processes.