The new rating for building smart readiness: the Smart Readiness Indicator

Sneak peek to the calculation methodology and other elements for national implementation resulting from the EPBD recast.

The EPBD recast confirms the Smart Readiness Indicator (SRI) as the common EU scheme to rate the smart readiness of buildings. This article analyses the specific provisions outlined in Directive (EU) 2024/1275, and related legal acts. It describes the calculation methodology and other elements, which shall be implemented at national level in the coming years.

Keywords: Smart Readiness Indicator (SRI); Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD); calculation methodology; technical framework; smart-ready buildings

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.

Each of the dimensions of the SRI framework depicted in Figure 1 are described in detail in the next sections.

Figure 1. SRI framework overview.

Calculation methodology

The Delegated Regulation 2020/2155 established the binding and technical provisions regarding the calculation methodology of the common Union scheme for rating the smart readiness of buildings. The methodology for calculating the SRI is based on the assessment of smart-ready services present or planned at design stage in a building or building unit, and of smart-ready services that are considered relevant for that building or building unit.

The SRI calculation shall be structured in 3 key functionalities, with related impact criteria. The assessment evaluates a building’s ability to optimize energy efficiency and overall in-use performance, including maintenance and fault prediction; their capacity to adapt operations to meet occupants' needs, focusing on comfort, convenience, health (particularly air quality), and promoting virtuous behaviours through information provision; and their responsiveness to grid signals to offer energy flexibility services. Also, the SRI includes 9 technical domains based on which a building’s smart readiness is assessed, similarly to how energy performance certificates do with energy performance. However, it expands the traditional scope of heating, cooling, domestic hot water, ventilation, lighting and electricity, to include also the dynamic building envelope, electric vehicle charging, monitoring and control. A schematic representation of the SRI calculation methodology is depicted in Figure 2.

Figure 2. SRI calculation methodology overview.

In addition, Member States shall define the respective weighting factors of relevant impact criteria and of technical domains for each impact criterion. The latter may differ between building types and categories. In addition, Member States ought to make available at least one smart-ready service catalogue, which shall describe the smart-ready services included in the assessment. Additional may be devised, for instance for different building types.

The main indicator of the SRI assessment is a single score, expressed as a percentage, which combines the key functionalities and technical domains. This smartness score is transferred to a rating scale to deliver a smartness class. Also, secondary indicators are provided for each of the three key functionalities, and technical domains.

Figure 3. SRI scoring. Example.

To facilitate the national implementation of such provisions, the European Commission has produced a default smart-ready service catalogue and weighting factors. As a result, a SRI self-assessment tool can be provided upon request by the SRI support team, acting on behalf of European Commission, by filling out this form: https://ec.europa.eu/eusurvey/runner/SRI-assessment-package.

In addition, many EU-funded research projects are implementing supporting tools for the SRI assessment. For example, the open access web app developed by Smart Square or the online tool coupled with e-learning materials in many EU languages resulting from SRI2market, among others.

Territory

The Delegated Regulation established that Member States shall decide if the SRI scheme is implemented in their national territory, or parts thereof.

Object types and building categories

The Delegated Regulation established that Member States may decide to implement the SRI scheme only to certain categories of buildings.

Optionality

Member States that implement the SRI scheme may choose to apply it on a voluntary or mandatory basis for buildings or building units located on their territory. Member States that decide to implement, modify, adapt, or terminate the implementation of the scheme needn’t provide any justification, but shall notify the Commission.

Control system

The Delegated Regulation states that Member States that decide to implement the SRI scheme shall establish an independent control system for SRI certificates, which shall ensure the validity of the SRI certificates issued on the territory.

Qualification of experts

The Delegated Regulation states that Member States that decide to implement the SRI scheme shall ensure that the assessment of the smart readiness of buildings or building units with a view to issuing a smart readiness certificate is carried out by experts that are qualified or accredited. Consequently, Member States shall lay down requirements on the qualification or accreditation of smart readiness indicator experts and ensure that those requirements include competence criteria, including in the ICT field. Member States shall make available to the public information on the qualifications of experts in charge of the smart readiness assessment, as per the Implementing Regulation 2020/2156.

In that case, Member States may decide to set additional requirements for those experts in order to qualify for issuing smart readiness indicator certificates, in particular in relation to their training. Where relevant, Member States may make available to the public either regularly updated lists of qualified or accredited experts or regularly updated lists of accredited companies that offer the services of such experts. Member States may use for this purpose the same means as for experts for energy performance certification and inspections under Article 17 of Directive 2010/31/EU.

Certificate issue, terms and conditions of use

The Implementing Regulation states that any economic operator may request from a qualified experts an SRI assessment and certificate for the building or building unit in question. The expert shall verify the reliability of the information collected for the assessment of the smart readiness of the building or building unit and for the issue of the SRI certificate. An SRI certificate shall only be issued based on an assessment performed by a qualified or accredited expert. The issue of an SRI certificate may be coordinated with that of an energy performance certificate.

The SRI certificate shall include the elements listed in Annex IX to Delegated Regulation.

The validity of the SRI certificate shall not exceed 10 years. However, where there is a significant change in a building or building unit that would have had an impact on the initial assessment of smart readiness, a new certificate shall be recommended.

Monitoring and promotion

The Implementing Regulation states that where Member States decide to implement the SRI scheme, experts that operate in the respective Member State’s or Member States’ territory shall report data on the SRI certificates they issue to the national or, where applicable, the regional authorities of the respective Member States, in accordance with the Annex to this Regulation. They may rely on their energy performance certificate database, where available.

Member States that decide to implement the SRI scheme shall report annually to the Commission the number of smart readiness indicator certificates issued on their territory and related statistics, as set out in the Annex to this Regulation.

Conclusion

Building smartness is increasingly recognized as a key factor in creating healthier, more comfortable buildings with reduced energy consumption and carbon emissions, while also supporting the integration of renewable energy sources into the broader energy system. The Smart Readiness Indicator (SRI) is designed to raise awareness among building owners and occupants about the benefits of building automation and electronic monitoring of technical systems. It also aims to instil confidence in the actual energy savings delivered by these advanced functionalities.

While the decision on whether and how to implement the SRI scheme remains the prerogative of individual Member States, there is a strong determination within the EU to promote its widespread adoption as a common Union-wide scheme in the coming years. Many Member States have already taken steps to test the implementation pathways of the SRI, preparing for its potential mandatory application to non-residential buildings in the near future. The European institutions are committed to avoiding the fragmented implementation that occurred with Energy Performance Certificates, striving instead for a harmonized approach across all Member States.

As the SRI gains traction, it is becoming evident that a market is emerging for skilled professionals who can integrate smartness assessments into their existing practices of energy audits and energy performance evaluations.