Towards efficient smart building energy management: Deep learning for predictive analytics

The rapid growth in global population necessitates efficient energy management solutions for sustainable living. Smart Building Energy Management Systems (SBEMS) play a crucial role in achieving this goal by leveraging automation and advanced analytics. This study proposes a novel Deep Learning and IoT-based SBEMS approach to predict energy consumption, classify buildings into energy-demand clusters, and optimize the monitoring and operation of electrical equipment. While traditional statistical methods have been widely used for load forecasting, recent advancements in deep learning provide robust alternatives to address the inherent complexity of nonlinear energy consumption patterns. This research employs regression analysis and state-of-the-art neural network architectures, including Single-Step and Multi-Step Dense Models, Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs), and Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) networks, to enhance prediction accuracy. Additionally, K-means clustering is introduced to segment buildings into distinct energy-demand categories, ensuring optimal energy utilization. Unlike prior studies that often lack a comprehensive approach, this work integrates all critical features under a unified framework. By applying these advanced methodologies to a unique dataset, the proposed system demonstrates improved accuracy in energy load forecasting and clustering, providing a significant contribution to the field of smart building energy management. The experimental results demonstrate that CNN and LSTM models significantly outperform conventional statistical approaches in capturing nonlinear energy consumption patterns. These outcomes support proactive energy scheduling, peak-demand mitigation, and scalable smart building energy management, offering practical value for facility managers, utility operators, and policymakers.