Energy Efficiency vs. Smart Readiness: A Comparative Assessment of EPC and SRI in Building Renovations

Building energy efficiency and smart readiness are key pillars of the European Union’s sustainable development agenda. The Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) evaluates a building’s energy efficiency, while the Smart Readiness Indicator (SRI) assesses its ability to integrate smart technologies. This study examines the interaction between these two assessment frameworks by analyzing two recently renovated buildings—a residential and an office building—both located in Thessaloniki, Greece. Pre- and post-renovation evaluations of EPC and SRI were conducted to assess the impact of energy efficiency measures and smart technology integration. The findings reveal a significant improvement in EPC ratings for both buildings, yet the increase in SRI was more pronounced in the office building (55%) than in the residential building (17.6%). This discrepancy is attributed to the implementation of Building Energy Management Systems (BEMS) and advanced automation in the office building, whereas the residential building primarily underwent passive energy efficiency upgrades. These results underscore that while EPC improvements are primarily driven by thermal and HVAC upgrades, SRI incorporates additional factors such as automation, user interaction, and grid adaptability. This study highlights the complementary yet distinct nature of EPC and SRI, advocating for a unified approach to building assessment that considers both energy efficiency and smart readiness. The findings support the integration of automation technologies in commercial buildings, while also recognizing the different energy consumption profiles and automation needs of residential structures.