Smarter Energy Performance Certificates; Integrating smart readiness aspects into buildings energy certification and tools for market up-take

Introduction

Recognizing EU projects' significant achievements since 2018 regarding the development of novel tools for EPC and SRI, actors representing 7 relevant research projects join forces to create a single platform which will provide open access to numerous EPC and SRI tools to enable their market uptake.

Project Objectives

Smarter EPC aims to develop and deliver an open platform which will include a total of 7 different tools for issuing EPCs and SRI. The aim is to bring stakeholders closer to recently developed or to be developed tools by research programs of the NextGenEPC network as well as the 2021-CET-SMARTREADY Life call.

Tools and Access

The Smarter EPC platform will allow full access to the EPC tools developed under:

1. D2EPC
2. SmartLivingEPC
3. UCERT

Additionally, it will provide access to the SRI tools to be delivered under:

1. Smart²
2. easySRI
3. SRI2Market
4. UCERT

Functionality

The platform will enable the smart introduction of building-related data, as well as the selection of the tool that will be used to issue EPC and SRI. At the same time, through the platform, the issue of common EPC and SRI certificates will be attempted, through the development of a visual solution combining the two certificates.

Additional Actions

Smarter EPC will also implement other actions to further promote and harmonize the two building assessment schemes. The project envisages:

• The development of common building inspection procedures for the export of EPC and SRI certificates through the adaptation of existing European standards.
• Common training programs for the training and certification of auditors for certification of the two schemes through parallel procedures.

Policy Support

Smarter EPC places particular emphasis on the support of the policies adopted at this stage both for the promotion of SRI, such as the support of the SRI platform and the national SRI test committees. Additionally, it includes actions to support the goal of certifying mandatory SRI assessment for buildings over 290 kW by 2026.