Bridging the gap: Discrepancies in energy efficiency and smart readiness of buildings

This study addresses the critical gap between traditional energy performance assessments and the Smart Readiness Indicator, a tool introduced in the European Union to evaluate a building’s ability to incorporate smart technologies for improved energy management. This divergence is important as it can lead to misinterpretations of a building's efficiency and adaptability, affecting stakeholders’ decisions and policy implementation. Using a comparative analysis of two pilot buildings in Bucharest, Romania, and Nicosia, Cyprus, this research highlights significant differences between energy performance ratings and SRI scores, with findings indicating a discrepancy of up to 18 % in perceived efficiency. Through this analysis, the study not only reveals the limitations of current assessment practices but also provides actionable recommendations to better align energy metrics with the Smart Readiness Indicator, ultimately contributing to a more integrated approach to sustainable building evaluations. The novelty of this work lies in its focus on bridging these assessment gaps, offering insights that go beyond existing literature by proposing enhanced policy measures for the integration of smart readiness into standard building performance evaluations.