The EPBD recast boosts smart-ready buildings

Important dates for national implementation of stringent requirements and a new rating scheme for smart readiness in buildings.

Achieving ambitious carbon-neutrality goals necessitates the integration of smart, active technologies in the building sector, serving as a crucial complement to renovations in areas like insulation and electrification. Smart technologies, such as smart thermostats that adjust the temperature in each room and can save up to 30% of energy, and occupancy detection sensors that optimize energy use when integrated with ventilation and lighting systems, offer significant benefits in energy efficiency, comfort, and convenience for building occupants. Beyond individual buildings, these technologies play a crucial role in the broader energy landscape. As renewable and intermittent energy sources like solar and wind expand, electricity systems face greater challenges, making it increasingly important for buildings to provide flexibility services to help balance the grid.

The Energy Performance of Building Directive – Directive (EU) 2024/1275 of the European Parliament and of the Council – was published in the Official Journal of the European Union on 24 April 2024. The recast includes several recitals and dedicated provisions, aiming to boost the smart readiness of buildings further supporting the European Green Deal.

The Smart Readiness Indicator (SRI), firstly introduced in the 2018 amendment of Directive 2010/31/EU, is confirmed as the common Union scheme for rating the smart readiness of buildings and developed in Article 15 of the EPBD recast. Albeit defined as an optional scheme, it is expected that by 30 June 2027, the European Commission shall adopt an implementing act detailing the technical arrangements for the effective implementation of the application of the SRI to non-residential buildings with an effective rated output for heating systems, air-conditioning systems, systems for combined space heating and ventilation, or systems for combined air-conditioning and ventilation of over 290 kW. Consequently, the ground is ripe for service engineers, building owners, and Member States to get acquainted with this new scheme which is soon to be implemented. There are several EU-funded research projects and initiatives that are developing supporting materials particularly to that end.

For now, 12 Member States are undergoing non-committal test phases of the SRI scheme, testing the calculation methodology proposed by the European Commission. France and Denmark concluded the test phases in 2024 and are in the early stages of implementation, seeking to coordinate the new common Union scheme with existing assessments and procedures at national level, such as those related to energy performance certification schemes.

Beyond the provisions related to the SRI, Member States are mandated to begin setting requirements regarding smart-ready technologies by the end of 2024. Particularly regarding building automation and control systems (BACS), automatic lighting controls, and infrastructure for electric vehicles. The minimum capabilities for such smart-ready technologies are described in Article 13 and 14, respectively. An overview of the important dates for national implementation of the smart-ready technology requirements are depicted in the tables below.

The EPBD also strives for Member States to promote effective installation and operation of low temperature heating systems in new or renovated buildings, as well as self-regulating devices. In addition, Member States are also mandated to ensure building owners, tenants and managers to have direct access to the building system’s data, being able to make it available to a third party, without additional costs. By 31 December 2025, the Commission shall adopt implementing acts detailing interoperability requirements and non-discriminatory and transparent procedures for access to the data.

We were already aware that building smartness was an effective means to healthier and more comfortable buildings with lower energy use and carbon emissions, while facilitating the integration of renewable energy sources into the energy system. Now the EPBD recast is mandating Member States to integrate the smart dimension into national building codes and regulations. As a result, a market is emerging for skilled professionals capable of checking the compliance with smart-ready requirements, inspecting related systems, and performing smart readiness assessments in buildings. The challenge is clear, buildings shall be able to sense, interpret, communicate, and actively respond in an efficient manner to changing conditions in relation to the operation of technical building systems, the external environment, and demands from building occupants. Will the stakeholders across the value chain be up to the task?