2.IV.i. Status and plans on smart buildings – OVERVIEW

There is a broad range of initiatives for smart cities and smart urban regions funded by the Smart Cities Initiative of Austria's Climate and Energy Fund¹⁷:

After an assessment of the current cost/benefit ratio of implementing the Smart Readiness Indicator, taking into account the regulations currently in force in the Brussels-Capital Region and the changes currently being made to them, the Brussels-Capital Region will not implement this indicator, but will incorporate additional regulatory requirements and information in the regulations on technical installations and on the EPB certificate.

The Flemish Energy Agency closely follows developments at the European level regarding the Smart Readiness Indicator. For the elaboration of the European regulations (delegated and implementation acts regarding the Smart Readiness Indicator), the European Commission has composed an expert group with experts from the different Member States, among which is the Flemish Energy Agency. This expert group has already met three times to discuss the content of the regulations. There are currently no concrete plans for the implementation of the Smart Readiness Indicator. Therefore, specific stakeholder consultation in the Flemish Region will be necessary. The Flemish Energy Agency will investigate whether a test phase would be necessary before deciding on the effective implementation of the Smart Readiness Indicator.

By the end of 2019, Wallonia has no policies in place concerning the management of smart buildings.

However, in some aspects of the regulations, there are punctual requirements for regulation systems (i.e., a minimum regulation scheme for non-residential ventilation systems). The EPB calculation methodologies also encourage the building projects to be equipped with regulating systems or optimisers but it is not mandatory to fulfil the EPB requirements.

Proposals for new actions will be made in the yet-to-come update of the region’s LTRS.

No data available

Currently there is no national definition of smart buildings.

Several workshops on this topic were held in Cyprus, while exchanges of ideas and information on best practices with other Member States took place. During the workshops it was pointed out that the implementation of the new obligation arising from the EPBD and other Directives presupposes the development of new tools and the introduction of new interactive technologies and new concepts that will inform and motivate the final consumer to actively participate in the energy community.

At the level of local government, the Municipalities of Nicosia, Paphos and Aradippou have developed initiatives for their transformation into smart cities. Many of the actions they plan are not purely in the energy sector but provide for the development of applications and infrastructure through a package of advanced digital services that can be used in the future by energy communities as well.

The draft legislation which was concluded to harmonise Directive 2018/844/EU and is now national legislation, will allow the Minister of Energy, Trade and Industry to issue a decree to determine issues concerning the Smart Readiness Indicator not covered by delegated and implemented acts, to be adopted by the European Commission.

Requirements for building intelligence differ depending on the building's purpose and the way it is used, although it is always necessary to meet the criteria for safety, reliability, economic operation, reasonable investment and operating costs. The 'smart buildings' concept is one element of a broader concept, that of the 'smart city'. In the Czech Republic, many projects have been launched in recent years to gain practical knowledge and to unify methodologies of approaches regarding these concepts.

In this respect, the National Research and Innovation Strategy for Smart Specialisation, which the EU Member States were required to prepare for identifying the most promising areas of the economy, should be mentioned. This should subsequently be supported by the European Structural and Investment Funds (ESIF). The Czech Republic has prepared its National RIS3 Strategy based on these elements, and it reflects the priorities of the economy which should be addressed by ESIF programmes and selected national R&D support programmes. A complex area is the preparation and demonstration of integrated solutions for cities and their agglomerations (smart cities and regions) concerning European initiatives, but also taking into account the specific characteristics of the Czech Republic. The essence is to establish synergies between the generation and transmission of energy, the use of energy in buildings and the energy intensity of transport, while applying ICT (Information and Communication Technologies). In the residential sector, the concept of smart homes and housing is to be developed, which is the intersection between construction, local energy production and smart appliances, but also other elements contributing to a safe and happy building and living environment. Energy savings must focus not only on technical solutions but also on business and financing models. Also important is to reduce the energy consumption of buildings, including improving their insulation. Passive houses can lead to an increase in quality for the indoor and outdoor environment, as lower levels of harmful substances are inside the building and lower pollution emissions seep into the surroundings.

Work is constantly evolving on updating and developing requirements for technical building systems and the calculation methodology to support the requirements for smart buildings.

Estonia currently has no initiatives on smart buildings in place.

Preparation of legislation pertaining to Building Automation and Controls (EPBD Article 8), is ongoing since 2019 and is expected to be concluded in the spring of 2020.

During 2017-2019, the Ministry of the Environment together with a wide group of actors coordinated by Motiva Oy concluded two projects aimed at promoting building automation in both single-family homes and apartment buildings (Figure 7). The projects collected information on building automation in residential buildings and developed buyer and user guides for homeowners / builders. Information is available in Finnish on two websites maintained by Motiva Oy: for single-family homes: www.energiatehokaskoti.fi/taloautomaatio, and for other residential buildings: www.motiva.fi/taloautomaatio.

Figure 7: Information on building automation for apartment buildings.

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If there is not any ‘Smart Building’ definition yet in France, the topic is being studied by the government alongside the French stakeholders. For instance, on 7 December 2017, a charter pushed by the Ministry of Territories Cohesion & Relation with Territorial local Communities, was signed by 127 companies to develop more connected and more inclusive buildings.

This document led to the creation of a voluntary label, the so-called ‘Ready to services’ (R2S) for non-residential buildings and the ‘NF Habitat HQE’ certification for residential buildings but also the creation of a Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) meant to improve building actors’ skills. All those works were made possible with the help of stakeholders, represented by the Smart Building Alliance (SBA) and Alliance HQE-GBC.

With the funding programme 'Pilotprogramm Einsparzähler' the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy supports the development and testing of measuring systems to quantify savings on electricity, gas, oil and biomass and cooling. It is up to the developer to decide which target group (industry, private households, public bodies) is addressed with the measuring system and which technical system the metering device is based on. The programme aims to support the development of energy savings measuring systems, thereby promoting research for the development of innovative technologies/solutions. The ultimate goal is to offer users the possibility to continuously monitor their energy consumption in order to take informed decisions on how to reduce it.

The KfW programme ‘Energy-efficient urban redevelopment –KfW432’ supports integrated neighbourhood concepts and refurbishment management. The programme is designed as an ‘investment preparing’ programme that solely promotes concepts and their implementation. Investment for the refurbishment itself, for which there are other KfW support programmes (e.g., the CO₂ building refurbishment programme) is not included. Integrated neighbourhood concepts show the technical and economic potential for energy savings at the neighbourhood level, taking into account urban planning, existing monuments, building culture and housing economics as well as demographic and social aspects. The supported concepts may also include statements on the extent to which ‘smart’ technologies can contribute to climate protection in the neighbourhood. However, this is not a condition for eligibility. BMI has developed the KfW436 programme for model projects in the ‘Smart City’ area where local authorities and local government enterprises may apply for KfW grants of up to 65% per action.

The adaptation of Directive 844/2018/EU in the Greek legislation (expected in early 2020) foresees the establishment of a smart readiness indicator (SRI) of the buildings, which will express the ability to adapt the operation of the building or the building unit to the needs of the tenants and the network, and the possibility to improve its energy efficiency and overall performance. The SRI is based on energy saving characteristics, benchmarking and flexibility, enhanced features, availability of interconnected capabilities and smart devices.

There is no existing legislation about smart buildings in Hungary.

The future plans and educations might be based on the results of the Digital Success Programme 2.0:

The Digital Success Programme 2.0 includes a special emphasis on the topic of Smart City developments. DSP2.0 aims to enable municipalities, citizens, businesses, and communities to make the most of the opportunities offered by Smart City developments. DSP2.0 intends to create harmony between the Smart City settlement development approach and the traditional settlement management on the one hand, and to contribute to the Smart City concept and institutional system being integrated into the Hungarian administrative system, mainly that of the local governments and territorial administrations, as well as into enforcement practices. Smart City development pilot programmes will be launched within the framework of DSP 2.0²⁵.

The Hi-Smart (Higher Education Package for Nearly Zero Energy and Smart Building Design) project aims to develop educational material for students and professionals in higher education in Hungary, Slovakia and Germany, by supporting the design, construction and operation of smart, energy efficient buildings. The multidisciplinary package covers sustainable building solutions, building services systems, renewable energy sources, and smart technologies for use in buildings.

The objective is to contribute to the professional design of nearly-zero energy and smart buildings, in line with the objectives of the European Directive on the Energy Performance of Buildings. The three-year project, which runs until August 2022 and is supported by the Erasmus + programme, will also focus on bringing students together with industry players, providing a platform for meetings and exchanges of experience.

The project is coordinated by the Energiaklub (Hungary), and has as project partners the Budapest University of Technology and Economics (Department of Building Engineering and Mechanical Process Engineering), the Technische Universitaet Kaiserslautern (Germany) and the Technical University of Bratislava (Slovenska Technicka Univerzita Bratislave)²⁶.

The Smart Readiness Indicator (SRI) for buildings will allow for rating the smart readiness of buildings, i.e. the capability of buildings (or building units) to adapt their operation to the needs of the occupant, also optimising energy efficiency and overall performance, and to adapt their operation in reaction to signals from the grid (energy flexibility). The SRI should raise awareness amongst building owners and occupants of the value behind building automation and electronic monitoring of technical building systems and should give confidence to occupants about the actual savings of those new enhanced functionalities. The roll out of intelligent metering through the National Smart Metering Programme described in 2.IV.iv. is an important step in enabling smart buildings and the adoption of the SRI. Potential testing of the SRI in Ireland will be considered in 2021.

There is no specific definition of 'smart buildings' in the Italian legislation. However, the Ministry of Economic Development entrusted ENEA with a research project aimed at defining a 'smart building'. The project investigates different aspects, namely: innovative solutions for building renovations focusing on monitoring and control of technical building systems; optimisation of thermal grids for energy distribution; green technologies for building renovation (green walls, RES for greenhouses); and development of building energy management systems.

Italy will transpose the new indicator into its national laws after the European Commission publishes the delegated act to supplement Directive 844/2018/EU, which establishes the definition of the Smart Readiness Indicator and the methodology by which it is to be calculated.

Latvia is continuing to improve the LEPB for the purpose of requirements for smart buildings.

Luxembourg has not yet implemented the smart readiness indicator for buildings. Luxembourg fully understands and supports the need for smart buildings but has decided not to be among the frontrunners on this topic as discussed in the CA-EPBD.

The possibility of data gathering on energy consumption in buildings equipped with building automation and control is being assessed by the Building Regulation Office and the Building and Construction Authority. Sufficient data would allow for the determination of the benefits and pitfalls of devising systems that would increase the use of smart technologies in particular building typologies.

Developments in the establishment of the smart readiness indicator at a European level have been followed closely by the Building Regulation Office and the Building and Construction Authority. Possibilities for the introduction of a smart readiness indicator and its implications in relation to improvements in energy performance have been explored.

Discussions have also been ongoing regarding the changes that would be warranted if the smart readiness indicator was to be implemented in conjunction with the EPC framework, and how the construction industry would integrate this requirement if the smart readiness indicator would be implemented as a separate feature. In the current state, no final decisions have been taken with regards to the implementation of the smart readiness indicator. Decisions in this field are at an early stage.

Owners and, above all, building users need reliable information to reduce their building's energy consumption. The utility sector is therefore focusing on building automation systems, including an obligation to have an extensive energy management and building management system in larger buildings from 2026 onwards. With such a system, the user can better control a lower energy consumption while maintaining comfort and a healthy indoor climate, by automatically adjusting the settings of installations to the demand. Homes and smaller utility buildings are or will be equipped with a smart meter (by the end of 2020 all households and small enterprises will be offered a smart meter; they are free to accept or reject the smart meter). This allows users to gain better insight into current energy consumption; then they can work more effectively with energy savings.

All buildings have now had smart metering of electricity installed. This also allows for the extension of smart technologies for various applications.

In planning for a revised EPC scheme, it is also being investigated as to whether the maximum electrical capacity should be part of an extended energy performance calculation.

No legal framework supporting smart buildings has yet been adopted. The commercial construction sector is becoming 'smart' by introducing smart technologies into its investments. The first legal step has been made with the Act on electromobility and alternative fuels¹², with Art. 12 setting the obligation to provide adequate power connection with charging points with a power of not less than 3.7 kW in new public buildings and multi-family buildings.

Smart buildings play an important role in Portugal, as they take advantage of the many solutions continuously developed by the market, and the potential boost from the measures highlighted in the Long-Term Renovation Strategy (LTRS). These solutions will boost the interconnection among the buildings, the electric grid, vehicles and others connection points. With the implementation of the Smart Readiness Indicator (SRI), also prescribed in the LTRS, special focus will also be given to the user and its role.

There is no definition of smart buildings and no decision on specific policies for smart buildings as of yet.

The Slovenian Smart Specialisation Strategy (S4)¹⁸ (2015) defined national strategic development priorities and niches, which in practice are supported by a targeted, comprehensive and tailored package of measures. At the same time, with the implementation of S4, Slovenia introduced a new model of development cooperation between key innovation stakeholders and managed to significantly improve integration into European and international development and innovation networks, platforms and consortia.

S4 identifies three priority pillars and nine areas of application within the following focus areas and technologies:

I. Digital;
II. Circular;
III. Industry 4.0.

For (smart) buildings, the first priority pillar, i.e., digital, is the most relevant one, consisting of:

I.1 Smart cities and communities
I.2 Smart buildings and home including wood chain.

For example, the Strategic Development Innovation Partnership ‘Smart buildings and home including wood chain’ focuses on the construction of buildings, interior elements and care and management facilities for buildings as well as their connectivity with the neighbourhood and with smart NZEB.

Renovation projects of public buildings to NZEB level which are being co-financed from cohesion funds are required to include a minimum of smart features, e.g., a building (energy) management system (B(E)Ms) or building automation and control system (BACs) and smart metering. Incentives for advanced BACs in new and renovated residential buildings, for solar power plants for self-supply in stand-alone and for collective investments are available through the Eco Fund. Regulation is also in place for smart meters for heat metering and billing in apartment buildings. The above measures support improved indoor environmental quality and energy performance of buildings.

No data available.

In 2020, the PBL and PBF were revised with the addition that the technical characteristics of a building and requirements for construction works should include charging electric vehicles¹³.

As of 2025, each parking space in car parks with more than ten parking spaces belonging to residential buildings has to be equipped with wiring infrastructure for charging electric vehicles. For non-residential buildings, at least 20% of parking spaces have to be equipped with wiring infrastructure, and car parks with ten (10) parking spaces or more shall have at least one parking space with a charging point installed. For buildings already constructed, which are not residential buildings, the requirement to have a charging point installed is eligible for car parks with 20 parking spaces or more.

The UK’s Clean Growth Strategy³¹, published in 2017, sets out policies and proposals that aim to accelerate the pace of ‘clean growth’.

This includes the rollout of smart electricity and gas meters in Great Britain as part of an infrastructure upgrade to make the energy system cleaner and more efficient, helping to deliver net zero greenhouse gas emissions and modernise energy services for consumers⁵⁰. As of December 2019, 20.6 million smart meters had been installed in homes and businesses across Great Britain⁵¹ and the Government has confirmed a new policy framework for delivering a market-wide rollout after 2020⁵². The 2017 Smart Systems and Flexibility Plan and 2018 Progress Update⁵³ sets out actions underway. The UK Government is working closely with the energy regulator (Ofgem) and industry to support the transition to a smarter, more flexible energy system. This includes work by Government to set regulatory requirements and to facilitate the development of technical standards for smart appliances and smart electric vehicle charge points, which will provide market certainty and stimulate consumer demand⁵⁴.

The Government also declared that it will invest around £265 million into the innovation of Smart Systems, including up to £70 million over the five years from 2016, dedicated to supporting innovation in energy storage, demand side response and other smart energy technologies⁵⁵.

Please see England report.

Controls, such as heating zone controls and thermostatic regulating devices are longstanding requirements under Building Regulations and details are provided in the relevant Building Services Compliance Guides^{29 30}. Building automation and control systems are encouraged under the current National Calculation Methodologies (NCM) used to assess compliance with minimum energy performance requirements and energy performance certification of buildings. The NCM development programmes are also considering how to best integrate new smart technologies.

The Department of Finance of Northern Ireland is assessing the smart building requirements in the EPBD (as amended by 2018/844/EU) and will continue to review developments in UK administrations and elsewhere. The Northern Ireland Department for the Economy is currently developing an Energy Strategy and issued a Call for Evidence³¹, which closed in March 2020 and included a call to consider smart metering, controls, and tariffs. This Energy Strategy is expected to further inform local developments. 

See England report for details. There are no Scotland specific plans for any further smart building initiatives at this time.