Based on the 2018 revision of the Energy Performance of Building Directive (EPBD) which aims to further promote smart technologies in the building by an establishment of an Optional Smart Building Indicator, the Smart Readiness Indicator (SRI) project has been started by EU.

The aim of the SRI:

• Try of put energy consumption in balance with energy production;
• Save energy by applying smart technologies.

With the SRI following aspects are addressed (See Figure 1):

• The ability to adapt its operation mode in response to the needs of the occupant paying due attention to the availability of user-friendliness, maintaining healthy indoor climate conditions and ability to report on energy use.
  e.g. Use of CO₂ sensors to decide when to increase ventilation.
  e.g. Dashboards displaying current and historical energy consumption.
• The ability to maintain energy efficiency performance and operation of the building through the adaptation of energy consumption for example through use of energy from renewable sources.
  e.g. Management of heating and lighting system based on occupancy sensors.
  e.g. Load-shifting to increase self-consumption of local generated renewable energy.
• The flexibility of a building's overall electricity demand, including its ability to enable participation in active and passive as well as implicit and explicit demand response, in relation to the grid, for example through flexibility and load shifting capacities.
  e.g. Reduce power consumption when grid demand is high.

Figure 1: Smart Building Technologies advantages

The initial proposed SRI methodology considers 10 building systems/services (Heating, Cooling….) and called "Domains" (Figure 2) and assess the impact of a service score according to 8 impact criteria (Energy, Self-generation, Comfort ….). Currently lifts are not included as a "Domain".

Figure 2: 10 Building Domains & 8 Impact Criteria

Finally, an overall score using an multi criteria assessment method is calculated (Figure 3).

Figure 3: Methodology for SRI Assessment

The first technical study concluded in August 2018 for investigating the possible scope and characteristic of such indicator. A second study has been started in December 2018. The Project study is expected to be published by mid-June 2020. An interesting prestation has been given at the past ELA Conference. The ELA Energy and Environment Committee is participating and monitoring the progress.