Thirteenth International Conference on The Constructed Environment

Abstract

More efficient and flexible energy use will play a vital role in a sustainable built environment. Buildings consume 40% of energy demand globally and thus provide a great demand flexibility potential to support the future renewables-driven energy system. Today, most buildings do not have the technological capabilities to adjust their operation according to the energy grid signals. Therefore, to promote the uptake of smarter building technologies, the European Union has proposed a regulated implementation of a smart readiness indicator (SRI). The SRI rating scale has been developed to support European Green Deal and the Renovation Wave. The indicator aims to raise awareness of the potential of smartness to improve buildings’ overall in-use performance, support the occupant’s well-being, and energy grid flexibility. This presentation reviews the SRI’s rating criteria and shares the first experience of the framework’s applicability in California. The study reviews the next steps towards more advanced and climate-neutral building operations by introducing the SRI rating of a LEED Platinum baseline design building. The study also shows the core technologies to increase the scoring while enhancing the demand-based building operation. The results highlight the importance of raising more discussion on the potential of smart building technologies to support the electrification of the energy system. However, as the SRI suggests, this should be done while supporting occupants’ well-being, health, and comfort in buildings.