Smarter buildings as part of the energy system for increased efficiency and flexibility – Societal Readiness Pilot

Projects should deliver measurable contributions to all of the following: 1. Reduction in buildings’ energy demand, with a minimised gap between as-designed and as-built performance. 2. Increased number of building typologies equipped with smart grid-connected RES and energy storage, yielding greater flexibility in grid/network management and operations. 3. Enhanced smart readiness of buildings as rated by the Smart Readiness Indicator (SRI) and/or other relevant building rating systems. 4. Improved responsiveness of stakeholders to the needs and concerns of diverse social groups (including vulnerable and disadvantaged users), bolstering societal uptake and trust in smart building outcomes.

Proposals must: 1. Develop solutions that enhance smartness of buildings by using and facilitating upgrades of existing BMS/BEMS or other technical equipment. 2. Ensure user‐friendliness while guaranteeing indoor environmental quality, occupant comfort and user satisfaction. 3. Demonstrate proposed solutions in at least three real‐life pilot projects covering:
• Three different climatic zones,
• Three different building typologies (e.g. residential, tertiary),
• Three distinct technical building systems. 4. Develop and apply a methodology to measure achieved:
• Energy demand reductions versus current best practices,
• Increased grid flexibility,
• Enhanced interoperability between building systems and the grid. 5. Investigate cost‐effectiveness and replicability of solutions across different contexts. 6. Employ an interdisciplinary approach incorporating SSH expertise to support Societal Readiness, stakeholder engagement and socio‐technological co‐design.