An experience on applying sustainability and energy efficiency in undergraduate building design Roberta Vieira Gonçalves de Souza Dra, Teacher of Departament of Technology, robertavgs2@gmail.com. Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Laboratory of Environmental Comfort, Belo Horizonte - MG, 30130-140, Tel.: (31) 3409-8872 Ana Carolina de Oliveira Veloso Architect, Master student of the Post Graduation Program in Building Environment and Sustainable Heritage of the Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, acoveloso@gmail.com. Paula Rocha Leite Architect, student of the Specialization Course of Technological Systems and Sustainability Applied to the Built Environment of the Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, papaular@yahoo.com.br. ABSTRACT Contemporary buildings, as a general rule, have a responsibility in the increasing global warming and environment degradation, mainly through the intensive use of energy, and resources consumption. And therefore they can be seen as having a great potential in the mitigation of those problems they help create. According to environmental researches, there is an urgent need for the society to change its behavior, diminishing the production of waste, minimizing the use of resources and energy and enhancing the efficiency of its processes. Issues like daylighting, natural ventilation, sun protection, environmental comfort and energy efficiency must be addressed in the first stages of the building design in order to generate sustainable and efficient buildings. In the specific context of energy efficiency in Brazil, it was launched on July 2009 the National Energy Conservation Label (ENCE) for Commercial, Service and Public Buildings. The evaluation is valid for conditioned, partly conditioned and non conditioned existing or new buildings. The School of Architecture of the Federal University of Minas Gerais, Brazil is already training its students to be able to face this new regulation and the design needs that are attached to the certification process, in order to enhance not only the energy efficiency of building but also their sustainability. The present paper shows two final graduation designs (TFG) made by students, based on concepts such as flexibility, environmental comfort, energy efficiency, resource conservation, and discusses the effort needed and the necessary changes in the conception process in order to fulfill these new needs in the design process. One of the studies was the refurbishment of a building transformed in a convention center in Formiga (Minas Gerais), which was classified according to the new ENCE requirements. The other one is a sustainable housing of mixed use (residential and commercial) in Nova Lima, also in Minas Gerais. The design studies show the commitment of a new generation of architects to the principles of sustainable architecture and also to a more sustainable way of living.