Challenges and opportunities in European smart buildings energy management: A critical review

• Published in: Renewable & sustainable energy reviews 2024-07, Vol.199, p.114472, Article 114472
• Main Authors: Hernández, José L., de Miguel, Ignacio, Vélez, Fredy, Vasallo, Ali
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Artificial intelligence; Building information modelling; Energy management algorithms; Grid-connected buildings; Smart buildings; Smart readiness indicator
• ISSN: 1364-0321; 1879-0690
• DOI: 10.1016/j.rser.2024.114472

The substantial stock of European buildings, accounting for more than 40% of energy consumption, has prompted member states to establish a renovation standard with stringent performance criteria. As advancing into the era of digital transformation, the concept of smart buildings emerges as a solution to create sustainable, efficient, resilient, active, and comfortable living and working spaces. This is achieved through intelligent resource use optimization, including the smart management of energy production, storage and distribution systems. Smart buildings operate by harnessing monitoring data and leveraging artificial intelligence algorithms and big data techniques. The integration of monitoring data with contextual information, such as building information modelling, physics, or simulation models, enhances the intelligent management of resources. Moreover, the incorporation of metrics like the smart readiness indicator promotes the adoption of smart buildings. This study delves into the significance of these techniques, expanding on existing research in the field of smart buildings. It integrates concepts of data enrichment, smartness, and user-centric approaches. Key findings provide insights into future opportunities within the sector, emphasizing the need for user awareness strategies, the development of new smart algorithms, and services that incorporate contextual data and the smart readiness indicator. The study also advocates for the widespread adoption of building digital twins. [Display omitted] •AI-driven smart buildings deal with pro-active and more efficient buildings where current approaches for smart energy management offer new research opportunities.•Grid-connected buildings for electricity demand response strategies promote the renewable penetration in energy usage in buildings, adding the capacity to predict and adapt to energy demands.•Integration of the smart readiness indicator (SRI), building information modelling (BIM) and cyber–physical systems in smart buildings energy management throughout the smart building life cycle increases the effectiveness of energy management strategies.•User-centric approaches for occupants, and end-users involvement in the operation of smart buildings, are pivotal.