Advancements in smart technologies and their integration in the building sector allow buildings to consume, produce, store and supply energy, and to contribute to a more flexible and efficient energy system, by enhancing the integration of energy efficiency, renewable energy, and distributed resources. The smartness of a building refers to its ability 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 the demands of building occupants. In 2018, the EPBD was revised to further promote smart building technologies and particularly to include the establishment of the “Smart Readiness Indicator” (SRI) as an optional common EU instrument. The SRI is an instrument designed to assess the ability of buildings (or building units) to perform three discrete functionalities. These functionalities include the adaptation of building’s operation to the needs of the occupant, the optimisation of energy efficiency and overall in-use performance, and the adaptation of its operation in reaction to signals from the grid. This indicator is expected to raise awareness among building owners and occupants regarding the benefits of building automation, monitoring and control of technical building systems, as well as provide occupants with confidence in the actual savings resulting from the implementation of these advanced features. This report analyses the level of integration of smart technologies in EU’s building sector and explores the progress of implementation of the SRI in six European countries, namely Austria, Croatia, Cyprus, France, Portugal, and Spain. In particular, considering the status of smart technology integration into the EU’s building stock, the study examines recent directives, recommendations, and policy documents at the EU level in order to identify the main policy directions and objectives that aim to leverage the integration of smart technologies into buildings. Moreover, in order to gain a deeper understanding of the policy contexts inside the targeted Member States (MSs), it employs a multi-method approach involving desk research and consultation with national stakeholders of the energy and building sectors. Based on these insights, a thorough analysis known as SOAR (Strengths, Opportunities, Aspirations, and Results) is conducted to investigate the progress of implementation of the SRI in each MS. According to the outcomes obtained from this approach robust and country-tailored policy recommendations for the successful rollout of SRI are provided.

The authors would like to acknowledge the support from the EC. The content of this report is the sole responsibility of its authors and does not necessary reflect the views of the EC.