The SRI
The Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) placed strong emphasis on the potential of smart technologies in the building sector. The Directive introduced the concept of the Smart Readiness Indicator (SRI), which provides a common methodological framework for assessing the smart readiness of buildings. According to the EPBD, the methodology for determining the smart readiness of buildings is based on three core functions regarding the building and its technical systems:
- The ability to continuously improve energy efficiency and optimal operation through its technical systems,
- The ability to adapt building operations to occupants’ needs, taking into account healthy indoor climate conditions and providing information on energy consumption,
- The flexibility of a building in terms of overall electricity demand.
The SRI is based on features relating to energy savings, flexibility, improved functions, and opportunities arising from increasingly connected and smart devices. The methodology takes into account elements such as smart meters, automation and control systems, self-regulating devices for indoor temperature, integrated home applications, charging points for electric vehicles, energy storage, interoperability of these elements, performance levels, and permitted flexibility.
Context
Policy context
The European Commission supports the promotion of smart buildings by inviting member states to implement voluntary/pilot schemes. Since 2022, several pilot projects have tested the methodology as from 2027, the assessment system for large buildings using the SRI is expected to be adopted and applied across all EU Member States.
At the same time, the European Commission actively supports the implementation of the SRI through the LIFE programme, funding four dedicated projects launched in 2022. These focus on developing tools, training, and stakeholder engagement.
Market context
The rollout of the SRI has been happening at varying paces across Europe. SRI2MARKET used lessons learned by early adopter countries that are well advanced in rolling out SRI to support and inspire action among additional Member States.
By engaging stakeholders from countries already running test phases of the SRI, SRI2MARKET identified six main challenges to the successful rollout of the indicator:
The project then worked to address these challenges, supporting refinements to the rollout plans of both countries running test phases and countries getting ready to begin them.
Project objectives
Within the described policy and market context, SRI2MARKET worked towards a successful rollout of the SRI among early adopters, while promoting action among those lagging behind in the adoption of the indicator. Specifically, the project aimed to:
1. Support the targeted EU Member States (Austria, Croatia, Cyprus, France, Portugal, Spain) in introducing the SRI into their national regulation
SRI2MARKET produced recommendations for each of the targeted Member States on: (a) integrating the SRI into the current national regulatory framework for buildings (including performance requirements and building certification schemes), (b) evaluating whether the default SRI calculation methodology was appropriate or whether adaptations were required, and (c) using the SRI as an effective policy instrument to achieve the national energy and climate policy goals.
2. Propose public funding schemes to finance SRI upgrades in buildings
The project set up and fuelled – through evidence-based proposals – a stakeholder dialogue process with key national power market stakeholders (regulatory agencies, energy agencies, system operators) so as to jointly define how improvements in SRI rating should be compensated in order to provide the appropriate incentives to the building renovation market. The goal was to incentive energy efficiency
measures that could help phase out old polluting power generation plants that exist only for serving peak demand, and/or mitigate the need for additional power generation capacity that is non-economically viable.
3. Develop tools to guide SRI assessors and streamline building assessments
The tools compose the “SRI2MARKET Tool Suite”, which is multilingual and available online.
4. Provide training to EPC assessors on the SRI and the methodology of its calculation
The SRI2MARKET offered e-learning lessons on the SRI and its assessment methodology. The learning materials were translated into native project partner languages.
5. Set up SRI pilots at national level so as to identify best practices for SRI assessments
The strategy of SRI2MARKET was to connect the users of the e-learning service with building owners that wanted indicative buildings of their portfolio assessed.
6. Provide recommendations to building owners and facility managers on cost-effective SRI upgrades
SRI2MARKET developed and disseminated recommendations to guide building owners in selecting automation capabilities that best fit their buildings. The recommendations were based on a series of use cases that: (a) presented practical examples of how specific technology upgrades in different types of technical in-building systems are translated into improvements in the SRI rating, and (b) proved what can be achieved, in terms of energy savings and demand flexibility, by upgrading the SRI of different technology packages.
Pilots
SRI2MARKET pilots were implemented in liaison with the relevant authorities and organisations at national level in Austria, Croatia, Cyprus, France, Portugal, and Spain.
Over 1200 pilots served to:
- test the SRI assessment process under real life conditions
- evaluate how well the e-learning material supports SRI assessments in practice and
- collect practical information on the possible needs of the SRI assessors
- fuel the interest of the national market actors in the SRI instrument
Why these specific countries?
SRI2MARKET chose to engage six countries that were representative of the different pace at which the SRI is being adopted across the EU:
Project outputs
Methodology for adapting SRI calculation to national specificities
The SRI methodology, while designed as a common EU instrument, must be sufficiently adaptable to reflect regional climatic conditions, building typologies, and energy system characteristics. SRI2MARKET used the learnings from stakeholder engagement activities to refine the methodology for the integration of the SRI in diverse national regulations, ensuring that it:
- Adapts weighting factors to reflect climate and energy contexts
- Determines which domains and services are mandatory, which are optional, and which may be excluded due to irrelevance
- Supports decisions that are transparent and based on national priorities, such as climate mitigation, digitalisation strategies, or the integration of renewable energy sources
- Safeguards comparability across the Union.
Strategies to integrate the SRI into EPCs
SRI2MARKET elaborated three scenarios for SRI-EPC integration using a simplified multicriteria analysis across nine thematic topics (alignment with EPC and other schemes, certificate content, training and quality, market impact, user expectations, energy/GHG outcomes, data/privacy/cybersecurity, and costs):
Along the process, the consortium concluded that the success of the integration process hinges on: (i) leveraging EPC data, (ii) interoperable databases and shared processes, and (iii) coherent SRI certificate design and communication.
Replicable guidelines for SRI rollouts across the EU
Based on the insights gained through the engagement of stakeholders, SRI2MARKET compiled a set of guidelines for the replication of successful SRI rollout practices across the EU. The guidelines address four different areas of action and are available in D4.2 – Replicable guidelines.
Tools, community, and training
SRI assessment tool (link)
The SRI2MARKET assessment tool provides a user-friendly interface for users to save their SRI assessments. The underlying calculation engine adapts the assessment to national specificities and priorities.After each assessment, the tool creates dynamic scorecards according to pre-defined filters, and it automatically compares the results with those of similar buildings situated in different countries (benchmark feature).
The use of the SRI assessment tool is restricted to those who achieve the “SRI beginner” badge in the SRI2MARKET training program.
The SRI2MARKET assessment platform includes an ISO 52120 assessment approach. Some preliminary results of the advanced benchmarking and monitoring tools of the SRI2MARKET platform provide useful information for defining roadmaps and supporting policy decisions. The sample size is not large enough to be highly representative, so no conclusions can be drawn. However, the following trends can be identified:
- The expected total SRI score for the existing building stock is between 0 and 20%
- The key functionality that is less present in the existing building stock is Energy Flexibility
- There is a slight correlation between the Energy Performance Certification class and the SRI score
- The functionalities Energy Efficiency and Response to Occupants are highly correlated
- Most of the buildings assessed will fall into the D category.
SRI e-learning course (link)
The SRI2MARKET e-learning course includes lessons on the SRI and its assessment methodology. The course is structured in chapters and relies on training materials such as videos and documents translated into several languages.
This program is mainly practical and based on examples / case studies. Participants must take a test at the end to receive an informal certification and a badge, which they need to also use the SRI assessment tool. The requirement of minimum certification to use the SRI2MARKET SRI assessment tool ensures that the database is populated with high quality and trustworthy input data in order to extrapolate aggregated and consolidated conclusions regarding the SRI test phases. The SRI training platform is currently being used by more than 800 trainees with the aim of becoming ‘SRI experts’ (i.e. achieving level 3 SRI expertise).
National dialogue panels
One of the key objectives of the project was to communicate the benefits of smart buildings to all relevant actors. National partners coordinated a stakeholder dialogue process with key national power market stakeholders (regulatory agencies, energy agencies, system operators). Along the project, stakeholders were categorised according to their relevance and openness to actively engage with the project activities.
SRI national communities
SRI2MARKET set up six SRI communities at national level so as to identify best practices for SRI assessments. These digital communities aimed to connect the users of the e-learning service with building owners that want indicative buildings of their portfolio assessed; they also aimed to provide a place where users can easily find live and updated information in their language about the SRI national deployment.
Meval4SRI (link)
The Meval4SRI tool is a web-based app that enables users to upload data about a building and estimate the expected energy savings from upgrading the smartness of its HVAC systems. Users of this app can also verify the expectations after the upgrade.
Quick exploration tool (link)
The Quick Exploration tool can be found on the landing page of the SRI assessent tool and allows stakeholders to choose a building similar to their own and explore multiple upgrade packages for it. This decision support tool is freely accessible online, not requiring registration, log in credentials, nor training certification.
The basis of this decision support tool is provided by an extensive dataset of 225 individual use cases consisting of 75 base use cases and 150 upgrade cases, which are tailored to multiple age classes, building types and climate zones. The evaluation complies with the EN ISO 52120 standard, and a variety of dynamic building simulations have been conducted for several use cases. The simulations are focused on the most common building types as well as selected, most relevant technical systems included in the current SRI methodology.
Other resources
Flyers and brochures
Webinar recordings
Videos
Reports
Please note that the following deliverables have not yet received final approval by the European Commission.
Disclaimer
Co-funded by the European Union under project ID 101077280. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or CINEA. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.
