In the heart of Reggio Calabria, Italy, a historic building is at the center of a groundbreaking study that could reshape how we think about smart and sustainable buildings. Led by Massimo Lauria, a professor at the Department of Civil, Energy, Environmental and Material Engineering at the Mediterranea University, the research is exploring the practical application of the Smart Readiness Indicator (SRI), a tool designed to measure a building’s ability to use intelligent technologies for energy efficiency.
The study, published in the journal ‘Buildings’ (translated to English as ‘Edifici’), is part of a broader European push towards digitalization and decarbonization, supported by policies like the Energy Performance Building Directive (EPBD) and the Green Deal. The SRI, although not yet widely adopted in national regulations, holds promise for enhancing energy efficiency and digitalization in buildings.
Lauria and his team are conducting an experimental application of the SRI in the renovation of a historic building in Reggio Calabria. The analysis compares the building’s SRI in its pre-renovated state, current state, and pre-design plan. This approach integrates assessment tools with Building Information Modeling (BIM) for a potential future digital twin approach.
“The SRI is more than just a metric; it’s a gateway to smarter, more sustainable buildings,” Lauria explains. “By standardizing its application, we can unlock significant energy savings and improve occupant awareness, which is crucial for the green transition.”
The study is part of a funded national research project aimed at enhancing policies for digitalization in the green transition. The results of this experimental application suggest that standardizing the SRI approach could have a profound impact on the energy sector. By making buildings more intelligent and energy-efficient, the SRI could drive down energy consumption and reduce carbon emissions, benefiting both the environment and the bottom line of energy providers.
“This research is not just about technology; it’s about creating a framework that can be adopted widely,” Lauria adds. “The potential commercial impacts are substantial, from reduced energy costs to enhanced property values.”
As the world moves towards a more sustainable future, the insights from this study could shape the development of smart buildings and influence public policies. By bridging the gap between digitalization and energy efficiency, the SRI could become a cornerstone of the green transition, driving innovation and creating new opportunities for the energy sector.